An adult human kidney is composed of >30 different types of cells. Its full functionality depends not only on the diversity of these cells, but also on their precise spatial organization. On average, each human kidney contains approximately 1 million nephrons, all of which drain into a single ureteral outlet. This remarkable spatial architecture is orchestrated by reciprocal interaction between 2 key progenitor populations: nephron progenitor cell (NPC) and ureteric progenitor cell (UPC). During kidney morphogenesis, these progenitors interact in a highly concerted manner, ensuring that multiple nephrons connect seamlessly to a single collecting duct (CD) tree.
An adult human kidney is composed of >30 different types of cells. Its full functionality depends not only on the diversity of these cells, but also on their precise spatial organization. On average, each human kidney contains approximately 1 million nephrons, all of which drain into a single ureteral outlet. This remarkable spatial architecture is orchestrated by reciprocal interaction between 2 key progenitor populations: nephron progenitor cell (NPC) and ureteric progenitor cell (UPC). During kidney morphogenesis, these progenitors interact in a highly concerted manner, ensuring that multiple nephrons connect seamlessly to a single collecting duct (CD) tree.