Stem Cell Reports. 2018 Aug 29. pii: S2213-6711(18)30324-2. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.08.003. [Epub ahead of print]

Organoids from Nephrotic Disease-Derived iPSCs Identify Impaired NEPHRIN Localization and Slit Diaphragm Formation in Kidney Podocytes.

Tanigawa S¹, Islam M¹, Sharmin S¹, Naganuma H², Yoshimura Y¹, Haque F¹, Era T³, Nakazato H⁴, Nakanishi K⁵, Sakuma T⁶, Yamamoto T⁶, Kurihara H⁷, Taguchi A¹, Nishinakamura R⁸.

Abstract

Mutations in the NPHS1 gene, which encodes NEPHRIN, cause congenital nephrotic syndrome, resulting from impaired slit diaphragm (SD) formation in glomerular podocytes. However, methods for SD reconstitution have been unavailable, thereby limiting studies in the field. In the present study, we established human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient with an NPHS1 missense mutation, and reproduced the SD formation process using iPSC-derived kidney organoids. The mutant NEPHRIN failed to become localized on the cell surface for pre-SD domain formation in the induced podocytes. Upon transplantation, the mutant podocytes developed foot processes, but exhibited impaired SD formation. Genetic correction of the single amino acid mutation restored NEPHRIN localization and phosphorylation, colocalization of other SD-associated proteins, and SD formation. Thus, these kidney organoids from patient-derived iPSCs identified SD abnormalities in the podocytes at the initial phase of congenital nephrotic disease.