Stem cell model of diabetic kidney disease identifies inflammation as a therapeutic target

· Medical Xpress

by International Society for Stem Cell Research

edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan

Gaby Clark

Scientific Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process

Robert Egan

Senior Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

peer-reviewed publication

trusted source

proofread

The GIST Add as preferred source

Human kidney organoids under normal culture conditions (left), compared with high glucose (right). Labels indicate podocytes (red), proximal tubules (blue), distal tubules (green), and all cells (white). Organoid deterioration and podocyte spreading are observed in the high glucose condition. Credit: Giulia Spennati and Benjamin S. Freedman

Stem cell researchers have identified inflammatory pathways that may play a key role in driving kidney damage in diabetic kidney disease (DKD), pointing to potential new approaches for protecting the kidneys. Using stem cell-derived kidney organoids, Dr. Benjamin Freedman and colleagues from the University of Washington found that exposure to high sugar levels triggered inflammation and disrupted the organoids' typical kidney tissue-like structure, causing individual kidney cells to detach. These changes were reminiscent of those observed in kidney biopsies and urine samples from patients with DKD. The research was published today in the journal Stem Cell Reports.

"High sugar causes inflammation in these organoids even though they lack an immune system," Freedman noted. "This was unexpected and gives us a new way to think about how diabetes can affect kidneys and other organs."

Importantly, drug treatments that reduced the overactivation of distinct inflammatory pathways protected the kidney organoids from damage even when they remained exposed to high sugar levels. The findings suggest that inflammation may be a primary trigger of kidney damage in DKD and that targeting dysregulated inflammatory pathways could offer a potential strategy for preventing or treating the disease. Careful preclinical and clinical evaluation will be needed to identify and test specific inhibitors before such approaches could potentially be used in patients.

DKD is a major complication of diabetes, affecting about 40% of people with the disease. Persistently high blood sugar can damage the kidneys over time, potentially leading to kidney failure and the need for dialysis or transplantation. Current management includes lifestyle changes and medications to control blood sugar and blood pressure, but few treatments directly target kidney damage.

To better understand how that damage develops and explore new treatment approaches, the researchers created a laboratory model of DKD using kidney organoids. These organoids are generated from stem cells through a stepwise process that recapitulates aspects of kidney development. Once formed, they resemble features of human kidneys in their cellular composition and function, providing an accessible model for studying human kidney biology and disease. The researchers modeled diabetic conditions by exposing the organoids to high sugar levels similar to those occurring in patients with diabetes, enabling them to investigate both the resulting kidney damage and potential ways to prevent it.

Publication details

Elevated glucose in kidney organoids induces tissue-intrinsic inflammation driving epithelial detachment, Stem Cell Reports (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2026.103081. www.cell.com/stem-cell-reports … 2213-6711(26)00292-4

Journal information: Stem Cell Reports

Key medical concepts

Diabetic Kidney Problems

Clinical categories

NephrologyEndocrinology Provided by International Society for Stem Cell Research Who's behind this story?

Gaby Clark

MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile →

Robert Egan

Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language. Full profile →

Citation: Stem cell model of diabetic kidney disease identifies inflammation as a therapeutic target (2026, September 17) retrieved 17 September 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-stem-cell-diabetic-kidney-disease.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.