Figure 8.

Schematic of a proposed strategy for bioengineering kidneys from in vitro models of kidney development. Initially, supernumerary UBs are induced from the isolated WD. Potentially each of these buds can be isolated and propagated to form multiple branched UBs in 3D ECM gels; each of which can then be recombined with freshly isolated MM. Following a period of mutual induction (i.e., 4–7 days), the recombined tissue (which now resembles a late-stage embryonic kidney) is then implanted into a host animal where it vascularizes and forms glomeruli. The possible use of cultured cells to engineer progenitor tissues (i.e., WD, UB and/or MM-like tissue) is also indicated. (From ref. 20).