[From the renal stem cell niche to functional tubule]

Abstract

In the present paper, a modular system to generate artificial tissues under optimal perfusion culture conditions is described. The microenvironment within the culture containers can be fine-tuned to meet the physiologic needs of individual tissues. An optimal physiologic environment is created by modulating a liquid phase as well as an artificial interstitium surrounding the growing construct. For example, the generation of tubular structures derived from renal stems cells under in vitro conditions is shown for the first time.