Differentiation of Fluorescent Reporter Human iPS Cell Lines for Monitoring Renal Cell Lineages

Key Personnel

Todd Valerius (PI)
Brigham and Women's Hospital

• Joseph V. Bonventre
  Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Ryuji Morizane
  Brigham and Women's Hospital

Project Description

Our objective is to aid RBK studies of in vitro cell populations by generating kidney cell type specific human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) reporter lines. Such cell lines will enable both the optimization of differentiation protocols tailored to achieve specific cell types, and comparisons to in vivo human kidney cell types that will advance our understanding of in vitro tissue development and maintenance. We will use CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to create GFP knock-in cell lines, targeting genes expressed in discrete cell types and according to consortium needs. These lines will be designed to label nephron and stromal progenitors, podocytes, and proximal and distal tubules. Additionally, cell type transition points offer glimpses into the factors that drive differentiation. We will create three dual-label reporter lines to illuminate transitions between progenitor and advanced cell types including nephron progenitors, fibrotic interstitium, and the juxtaglomerular apparatus.