Modeling of FAN1-Deficient Kidney Disease Using a Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Kidney Organoid System

Cells. 2023 Sep 20;12(18):2319. doi: 10.3390/cells12182319.

Abstract

Karyomegalic interstitial nephritis (KIN) is a genetic kidney disease caused by mutations in the FANCD2/FANCI-Associated Nuclease 1 (FAN1) gene on 15q13.3, which results in karyomegaly and fibrosis of kidney cells through the incomplete repair of DNA damage. The aim of this study was to explore the possibility of using a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived kidney organoid system for modeling FAN1-deficient kidney disease, also known as KIN. We generated kidney organoids using WTC-11 (wild-type) hiPSCs and FAN1-mutant hiPSCs which include KIN patient-derived hiPSCs and FAN1-edited hiPSCs (WTC-11 FAN1+/-), created using the CRISPR/Cas9 system in WTC-11-hiPSCs. Kidney organoids from each group were treated with 20 nM of mitomycin C (MMC) for 24 or 48 h, and the expression levels of Ki67 and H2A histone family member X (H2A.X) were analyzed to detect DNA damage and assess the viability of cells within the kidney organoids. Both WTC-11-hiPSCs and FAN1-mutant hiPSCs were successfully differentiated into kidney organoids without structural deformities. MMC treatment for 48 h significantly increased the expression of DNA damage markers, while cell viability in both FAN1-mutant kidney organoids was decreased. However, these findings were observed in WTC-11-kidney organoids. These results suggest that FAN1-mutant kidney organoids can recapitulate the phenotype of FAN1-deficient kidney disease.

Keywords: FAN1 gene; induced pluripotent stem cells; karyomegalic interstitial nephritis; kidney organoid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Endodeoxyribonucleases / metabolism
  • Endonucleases
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases / genetics
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells* / metabolism
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Multifunctional Enzymes
  • Nephritis, Interstitial*
  • Organoids / metabolism

Substances

  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases
  • Endonucleases
  • FAN1 protein, human
  • Multifunctional Enzymes

Supplementary concepts

  • Fanconi Anemia, Complementation Group I

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Korean Society of Nephrology (2021 KSN Basic Kidney Research) and supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (NRF-2021R1A2C2005192, NRF-2020R1A2C2012711, and RS-2023-00209312).