Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have created a bioreactor device that simulates some of the essential kidney processes using lab-grown human kidney cells.
Scientists believe that the device may one day allow people to stop need dialysis or harsh medications to suppress their immune systems after organ transplants.
The device has reportedly been successfully tested in pigs for a week with no visible side effects or problems, according to the scientists.
The gadget may operate silently in the background, much like a pacemaker, and does not cause the recipient’s immune system to launch an attack, according to a statement on the university’s website.
“Eventually, scientists plan to fill the bioreactor with different kidney cells that perform vital functions like balancing the body’s fluids and releasing hormones to regulate blood pressure – then pair it with a device that filters waste from the blood.
“The aim is to produce a human-scale device to improve on dialysis, which keeps people alive after their kidneys fail but is a poor substitute for having a real working organ. More than 500,000 people in the U.S. require dialysis several times a week. Many seek kidney transplants, but there are not enough donors, and only about 20,000 people receive them each year. An implantable artificial kidney would be a boon,” it noted.
Similar to how a transplanted kidney would, the scientists designed the bioreactor to link directly to blood vessels and veins, allowing nutrients and oxygen to pass through.
“Silicon membranes keep the kidney cells inside the bioreactor safe from attack by the recipient’s immune cells.
“The team used a type of kidney cell called a proximal tubule cell, which regulates water and salt, as a test case. Co-author H. David Humes, MD, from the University of Michigan, had previously used these cells to help dialysis patients in the intensive care unit with life-saving results,” the statement noted.
