"Insights and Potential Therapies for Polycystic Kidney Disease Revealed by 'Mini Kidneys'"
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University have grown 'mini kidneys' in the lab using stem cells derived from patients with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and successfully engrafted them into live mice, providing new insights into the disease's metabolic defects. The study revealed that boosting autophagy could reduce cyst formation in the mini kidneys, and the drug minoxidil, commonly used for hypertension and hair loss, effectively reduced cyst formation in a novel mouse model. This research could lead to potential new treatments for PKD and other kidney diseases.