Rat Kidneys Made in Lab Point to Aid For Humans
Source: NY Times
By HENRY FOUNTAIN
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have made functioning rat kidneys in the laboratory, a bioengineering achievement that may one day lead to the ability to create replacement organs for people with kidney disease.
The scientists said the rat kidneys produced urine in the laboratory as well as when transplanted into rats. The kidneys were made by stripping donor kidneys of their cells and putting new cells that regenerate tissue into them. Stripping an organ leaves a natural scaffold of collagen and other compounds, called the extracellular matrix, which provides a framework for new cells and preserves the intricate internal architecture of the kidney as well as its basic shape.
Harald C. Ott, senior author of a paper describing the research that was published online Sunday by the journal Nature Medicine, said that the work was still in its early stages and that there were many hurdles to creating fully functional kidneys for people. But he noted that replacement organs made in this way would have advantages over those made with artificial scaffolds or other techniques.
The huge benefit would be that its fully implantable in the shape of a kidney, he said.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/science/rat-kidneys-made-in-lab-seen-as-step-to-human-transplants.html?partner=EXCITE&ei=5043&_r=0
Warpy
(110,900 posts)I can't see any benefit to that particular shape. Someone who knows the surgery a little better needs to figure out what sort of shape for artificially grown transplant organs.
There's no such choice for heart or liver. There is for kidneys.
Duer 157099
(17,742 posts)although, I didn't go to the link to read the full story either.
Sounds like it's just the scaffolding that they need, which happens to be in the shape of a kidney.
Either way, cool.
Warpy
(110,900 posts)Kidney disease has moved in to stay this time. I won't be doing dialysis. It would be nice if this research came to fruition before my own kidneys conk out completely, but I don't hold out a hell of a lot of hope.
I'm just glad younger folks will live to see it.
Duer 157099
(17,742 posts)I know little to nothing about it. I wonder if a patient, while on dialysis, could have their own kidney decellularized/recellularized in situ?
Warpy
(110,900 posts)The whole thing would work best on scaffolding suspended in a nutrient solution in the lab. Then there would have to be extensive testing to make sure the organ works properly. Only then could it be cleared for implantation into a human.
Your idea is stuff of the science fiction future. If we survive as a species, I'm sure it will eventually come to pass and everything we do today will seem utterly barbaric.
For now, it's the laboratory followed by surgery if the organ works.
Duer 157099
(17,742 posts)Remove the diseased kidney, decellularize it, harvest stem cells from the patient, use those to recellularize the kidney in vitro. Then transplant it back. No rejection issues.
But yeah, probably not in the next few years. But eventually.
Warpy
(110,900 posts)There's a great reason they graft them onto the iliac artery/vein rather than replacing a diseased kidney.
Mnpaul
(3,655 posts)They remove the tissue leaving the rest intact and then grow new tissue on the scaffolding. The process must have finally been a success.