A Toolbox to Characterize Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell–Derived Kidney Cell Types and Organoids

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Abstract
Significance Statement: Kidney organoids generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) show great potential for modeling kidney diseases and studying disease pathogenesis. However, the relative accuracy with which kidney organoids model normal morphogenesis, as well as the maturity and identity of the renal cell types they comprise, remain to be fully investigated. The authors describe the generation and validation of ten fluorescent CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited iPSC reporter lines specifically designed for the visualization, isolation, and characterization of cell types and states within kidney organoids, and demonstrate the use of these lines for cellular isolation, time-lapse imaging, protocol optimization, and lineage-tracing applications. These tools offer promise for better understanding this model system and its congruence with human kidney morphogenesis. Background: The generation of reporter lines for cell identity, lineage, and physiologic state has provided a powerful tool in advancing the dissection of mouse kidney morphogenesis at a molecular level. Although use of this approach is not an option for studying human development in vivo, its application in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is now feasible. Methods: We used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to generate ten fluorescence reporter iPSC lines designed to identify nephron progenitors, podocytes, proximal and distal nephron, and ureteric epithelium. Directed differentiation to kidney organoids was performed according to published protocols. Using immunofluorescence and live confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and cell sorting techniques, we investigated organoid patterning and reporter expression characteristics. Results: Each iPSC reporter line formed well patterned kidney organoids. All reporter lines showed congruence of endogenous gene and protein expression, enabling isolation and characterization of kidney cell types of interest. We also demonstrated successful application of reporter lines for time-lapse imaging and mouse transplantation experiments. Conclusions: We generated, validated, and applied a suite of fluorescence iPSC reporter lines for the study of morphogenesis within human kidney organoids. This fluorescent iPSC reporter toolbox enables the visualization and isolation of key populations in forming kidney organoids, facilitating a range of applications, including cellular isolation, time-lapse imaging, protocol optimization, and lineage-tracing approaches. These tools offer promise for enhancing our understanding of this model system and its correspondence with human kidney morphogenesis.
Funding Information
  • National Institutes of Health (DK107344-01, DK107350)
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (GNT1100970)
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (GNT1136085)
  • Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program.
  • Stafford Fox Foundation

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