Abstract

Modeling Kidney Disease on a Glomerulus-on-a-Chip System

Stefano Da Sacco, Assistant Professor of Urology, GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology, Keck School of Medicine – University of Southern California

Within the kidney, the glomerulus is the structure in charge of the renal ultrafiltration. Loss of glomerular function leads to renal damage and could end with irreversible damage. The major roadblocks to advancing new drugs and therapeutics designed specifically to preserve glomerular function stem from the inability to effectively develop multicellular in vitro models that can accurately mimic the architecture of the glomerular filtration barrier. We have developed a barrier-free, human-based glomerulus-on-a-chip system that closely replicates the glomerular filtration barrier and its functions. More importantly, we have shown that this system can be used for modeling various diseases including membranous nephropathy, Alport Syndrome, and diabetic nephropathy as well as be used as a novel tool for mechanistic studies, biomarker discovery, and personalized medicine.