Renal progenitor cells from embryonic stem cells
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to compositions and methods for inducing the differentiation of stem cells into renal progenitor cells. In particular, the present invention provides compositions containing activin-a, retinoic acid, and bmp-7, and variants thereof, for differentiating stem cells into renal cells containing tubular epithelia. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides stem cells cultured with compositions used to treat renal disease.
1. A method for differentiating embryonic stem cells into renal proximal tubule cells comprising:
a) providing:
i) embryonic stem cells, wherein said embryonic stem cells are selected from the group consisting of murine embryonic stem cells and human embryonic stem cells; and
ii) a composition comprising a first agent, a second agent, and a third agent;
wherein said first agent is retinoic acid, wherein said second agent is activin-a, wherein said third agent is bmp-7;
b) culturing said embryonic stem cells with said composition; and
c) transplanting said cultured embryonic stem cells into kidney rudiments such that said cultured embryonic stem cells differentiate into renal proximal tubule cells.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said kidney rudiments and said embryonic stem cells are from the same host.