Gene expression profiles of embryonic kidneys and reconstructed organoids

Understanding the developmental maturation processes of the embyonic kidney is important for functional validation of the pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoid. The microarray analysis offers a powerful, efficient and effective method for the creation of global gene expression profiles of the developing kidneys. Those gene expression data helps identifying the sets of genes that are serially upregulating or downregulating as the developmental progression, which should serve as the markers to monitor the regenerated kidney tissue maturity. ICR mice were used to isolate embryonic kidneys from embryos at E11.5, E13.5, E15.5, E17.5 and P0. To identify the stage dependently upregulating genes, each neighboring stage specimens were compared. The mouse ESC-derived nephron progenitors (iNP), ureteric bud (iUB) and E11.5 embryonic kidney stromal progenitors were reconstructed to induce kidney organoid. The gene expression profiles of each embryonic kidneys, 7-day cultured E11.5 kidneys, reconstructed kidney organoids, and 7-day cultured reconstructed kidney organoids were compared to examine the developmental maturity.