Method of differentiating human pluripotent stem cells to podocytes

1. A method of producing nephron progenitor cells, the method comprising:

a) culturing a human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) population for about three days;

b) validating the expression of OCT4, NANOG, and TRA-1-60 in the iPSC;

c) differentiating the iPSC in serum-free and albumin-free medium containing DMEM/F12, 1% MEM-NEAA, 2-6 mM L-alanyl-L-glutamine dipeptide, GlutaMAX, and 0.1mM (β-mercaptoethanol; and a GSK3 inhibitor;

c. confirming the expression of a Brachyury + primitive streak cell population-48 hours after differentiating the iPSC;

d. differentiating the Brachyury + primitive streak cell population in human endothelial serum-free and human albumin-free medium, free of exogenous Wnt/ P-catenin activating agent, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), Activin, retinoic acid (RA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) but comprising biotin, DL alpha tocopherol acetate, DL alpha-tocopherol, vitamin A, BSA, fatty acid free fraction V, catalase, human recombinant insulin, human transferrin, superoxide dismutase, corticosterone, D-galactose, ethanolamine HCl, glutathione, L-carnitine, L-carnitine HCl, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, progesterone, putrescine 2HCl, sodium selenite and T3 (triodo-I-thyronine) for a time sufficient to differentiate a portion of the cultured cells into PAX2 + WT1 + SIX2 + nephron progenitor cells.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least 75% of the differentiated cells are PAX2 + WT1 + SIX2 + nephron progenitor cells.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least 90% of the differentiated cells are PAX2 + WT1 + SIX2 + nephron progenitor cells.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein at least 95% of the differentiated cells are PAX2 + WT1 + SIX2 + nephron progenitor cells.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sufficient time is at least 4 days.