In vitro incubation and study of kidney glomerular epithelial cells

Distinct differences between cultured podocytes and parietal epithelial cells of the Bowman's capsule

Phenotypic changes in culture hamper the identification and characterization of cultured podocytes and parietal epithelial cells of the Bowman's capsule (PECs). We have recently established culture conditions that restore podocytes to their differentiated phenotypes. We compared podocytes and PECs cultured under the same conditions to determine the unique characteristics of the two cell types. Performing this comparison under the same conditions accentuated these differences. Podocytes behaved like non-epithelial cells by extending cell processes even at confluence. By contrast, PECs behaved like typical epithelial cells by maintaining a polygonal appearance. Other differences were identified using immunostaining and RT-PCR; podocytes expressed high levels of podocyte-specific markers while PECs expressed high levels of PEC-specific markers. However, while podocytes expressed low levels of PEC markers, PECs expressed low levels of podocyte markers. Therefore, the identification of podocytes and PECs in culture requires the evaluation of respective cell markers and the expression of markers for other cell types.

Expression of podocalyxin inhibits cell-cell adhesion and modifies junctional properties in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

Podocalyxin is a major membrane protein of the glomerular epithelium and is thought to be involved in maintenance of the architecture of the foot processes and filtration slits characteristic of this unique epithelium by virtue of its high negative charge. However, until now there has been no direct evidence for podocalyxin's function. Podocalyxin is a type 1 transmembrane sialoprotein with an N-terminal mucin-like domain. To assess its function, we cloned rat podocalyxin and examined the effects of its expression on the cell adhesion properties of stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and inducible ecdysone receptor-expressing (EcR)-CHO cells. In a cell aggregation assay, CHO-K1 cells expressing high levels of podocalyxin showed complete inhibition of cell aggregation, and MDCK transfectants showed greatly reduced aggregation ( approximately 60-80%) compared with parental cells. In EcR-CHO cells, the expression level of podocalyxin induced by increasing levels of ecdysone analogue correlated closely with the antiadhesion effect. The inhibitory effect of podocalyxin was reversed by treatment of the cells with Arthrobacter ureafaciens sialidase, indicating that sialic acid is required for inhibition of cell adhesion. Overexpression of podocalyxin also affected transepithelial resistance and the distribution of junctional proteins in MDCK cells by an unknown mechanism that may involve interaction with the actin cytoskeleton. These results provide direct evidence that podocalyxin functions as an antiadhesin that maintains an open filtration pathway between neighboring foot processes in the glomerular epithelium by charge repulsion.

In vitro effects of puromycin aminonucleoside on the ultrastructure of rat glomerular podocytes

Puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced nephrosis in rats provides a model for studying the pathogenesis of severe proteinuric conditions, such as minimal change disease. The present study used scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy to investigate the in vitro effects of PAN on rat glomerular podocytes. Slices of rat kidney were incubated for up to 3 days in Medium 199 with Hanks' salts (control) or in medium with PAN. Semiquantitative SEM analysis of glomeruli on the upper surface of kidney slices indicated that incubation with PAN (100 micrograms/ml and 500 micrograms/ml) decreased the number of microvilli on podocyte cell bodies (days 1, 2 and 3), increased the number of glomeruli showing flattening of podocyte cell bodies and major processes (days 2 and 3), and increased the number of glomeruli showing surface membrane blebbing on podocyte foot processes (day 3) (p less than 0.001 in all cases). TEM morphometry revealed that incubation with 500 micrograms/ml PAN retarded significantly (p less than 0.001 at days 2 and 3) the loss of podocyte foot processes observed in control cultures. Whilst the SEM changes to podocyte ultrastructure largely mimic those seen in PAN nephrosis in vivo, the retardation of foot process loss runs counter to the major TEM change observed in vivo.

Glomerular podocytes in cultured rat kidney slices. A qualitative and quantitative electron-microscopic study

The ultrastructure of rat glomerular epithelial cells (podocytes) in kidney slices in vitro was examined using qualitative and quantitative electron microscopy. The kidney slices were cultured in Medium 199 with Hanks' salts in a 5% CO2/95% O2 environment for up to 14 days. Few changes in podocyte ultrastructure occurred in the first 12 h of culture, but by 24 h cell bodies were rounded, microvilli were present on all podocyte surfaces, and some foot processes had been replaced by flattened expanses of cytoplasm. These changes were more pronounced by 3 days, when some podocytes had developed pseudopodal extensions and appeared to be migrating from glomeruli onto the slice surface. Podocytes could still be identified after 8, 10 and 14 days of culture, although relatively few glomeruli remained at 14 days. Morphometric methods were used to analyse podocyte shape, volume and surface area during the first 4 days of culture. The most significant change involved loss of foot processes: the number of filtration slits per 100 microns of basement membrane decreased from 211.8 +/- 15.0 (mean +/- SD) at the commencement of culture, to 55.3 +/- 22.6 after 2 days (p less than 0.001). These data provide baseline information for in vitro studies on the effects of nephrotoxins on podocytes.

Morphological alterations of the glomerular (visceral) epithelium in response to pathological and experimental situations

The glomerular (visceral) layer of Bowman's capsule is comprised of a unique population of cells which have been termed "podocytes." Arising from these cells are large major processes and numerous smaller foot processes which completely surround underlying glomerular capillary loops. Podocyte foot processes interdigitate with each other and are separated by spaces (filtration slits) which are designed to facilitate flow of a large amount of filtrate across the glomerular wall. Podocytes exhibit dramatic morphological changes in response to the nephrotic syndrome and some forms of acute renal failure and may play an important role in the pathophysiology of these conditions. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that a reduction in the sialic acid component of a thick anionic surface coat plays a major role in the morphological changes that these cells exhibit in the nephrotic syndrome. Also, it has been shown that filamentous actin concentrated mainly within podocyte foot processes are the contractile elements responsible for altering the shapes of these processes. There is evidence to suggest that by altering the shapes of their foot processes, podocytes in the normal kidney are able to alter the number of fully patent filtration slits and thereby actively regulate the rate of solute efflux across the glomerular wall. In vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that cytoplasmic microtubules are probably not involved in alterations of the podocyte foot processes but do appear important in maintaining the morphological integrity of podocyte cell bodies and their major processes. In the present paper, the morphological changes which glomerular podocytes exhibit in response to the nephrotic syndrome, various forms of acute renal failure, and during in vitro incubation are discussed along with studies of the possible roles of cytoplasmic microtubules, microtubules, and the glomerular anionic surface coat in these changes.

Investigations of cytoplasmic contractile and cytoskeletal elements in the kidney glomerulus

Electron microscopy and in vitro techniques were used to evaluate the morphologic responses of glomerular podocytes and glomerular endothelial cells to compounds that affect either cytoplasmic contractile elements or cytoplasmic microtubules. In response to in vitro incubation in the presence of cytochalasin D or B (compounds that inhibit contraction of actin-like microfilaments), podocyte foot processes change in shape from short processes with broad bases to taller processes with narrow bases. Coincident with these shape changes, there is an increase in the number of fully patent filtration slit spaces between adjacent foot processes. In view of these observations, it is proposed that glomerular podocytes have the potential for monitoring the filtration slit area available for solute efflux across the glomerular wall by modifying the shapes of their foot processes (that is, expanding and contracting the bases of these structures). As in vitro incubation continues for 1 to 2 days, the cytochalasins inhibit the shape changes of glomerular podocytes that normally occur during 2 days of in vitro incubation--the loss of foot processes, filtration slits, endothelial pores, and thickening of the endothelium. The cytochalasins also inhibit the loss of foot processes and filtration slits that otherwise occur in response to enzymatic removal of glomerular-free surface sialic acid. The in vitro depolymerization of glomerular microtubules by any of a variety of drugs (for example, vinblastine sulfate, colchicine) results in the rounding up of podocyte cell bodies, the thinning of podocyte major processes, and a partial collapsing of the glomerular endothelial walls. These latter observations suggest that microtubules play an important cytoskeletal role in maintaining the structural integrity of these cells.

Cationized ferritin binding to anionic surfaces in normal and aminonucleoside nephrotic kidneys

The distribution and effects of polycationized ferritin (PCF) bound ot anionic sites on living plasmalemmas and basal laminae of normal and puromycin aminonucleoside nephrotic (PAN) kidneys were studied using an in vitro model system. Immersion of normal glomeruli in physiological saline solutions containing low concentrations of PCF (0.01 to 0.1 mg/ml) for 10 seconds results in preferential binding of PCF to microvillous projections on the glomerular epithelium (i.e., podocytes). Exposure to higher concentrations of PCF (1.0 mg/ml) for 10 seconds results in several layers of PCF distributed evenly over the urinary aspect of epithelial podocytes. In these short treatment times, the thin slit diaphragms which span the filtration slits appear to be impermeable to PCF. Within several minutes after PCF treatment, ferritin is found within caveolae on the surface of epithelial podocytes and within numerous pinosomes and larger endocytic vesicles within these cells. Longer treatment with PCF results in the narrowing of filtration slit spaces and the formation of junctions between adjacent podocyte foot processes. Occurringg coincident with these structural changes is a gradual accumulation of PCF in regular patches along the lamina rara externa (LRE) of the glomerular basement membrane. Loss of foot processes and accumulation of PCF in the LRE are prevented by treatment with either cytochalasin B (25 micro g/ml), D (2 micro g/ml) or incubation at low temperatures (0-4 degrees C). When PCF-coated glomeruli are incubated in PCF-free media, the ferritin coat is shed form the free surfaces within 1/2 to 1 hour except at the tips and sides of microvillous projections. Pretreatment of normal glomeruli with neuraminidase or protamine sulfate results in a dramatic reduction in the binding of PCF to the glomerular epithelial free surface. Treatment of PAN glomeruli with PCF often results in patchlike distributions of PCF over the glomerular epithelial free surface. High concentrations of PCF (1.0 mg/ml) bind preferentially to microvillous projections on the parietal epithelial luminal surface and in distinct patchlike patterns along the basal laminae of parietal and tubular epithelial cells.

Testosterone-dependent changes in vivo and in vitro in the structure of the renal glomeruli of the teleost Gasterosteus aculeatus L

During the reproductive period of the male stickleback, structural and functional changes of the kidney take place, both in the glomeruli and in the renal tubule cells. The structural changes in the glomeruli involve almost all glomerular components and point to a reduction of the glomerular filtration rate. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether these changes are controlled by testosterone, indirectly or directly. In vivo experiments demonstrated that exposures of immature castrates for 8 days to methyltestosterone leads to activation of mesangial cells and podocytes, to slight expansion of mesangial matrix and slight thickening of basal lamina. Observations on cultured renal tissue showed that two androgens, 11-ketotestosterone and methyltestosterone, are also able to stimulate the secretory activity of podocytes and mesangial cells in vitro. The results therefore indicate, that most glomerular changes in male sticklebacks during the reproductive season are directly effected by testosterone.

Tissue culture in nephrology: potential and limits for the study of renal disease

Kidney cells, when isolated and cultivated in vitro, retain differentiated renal properties. Glomerular epithelial and mesangial cells from animal and human kidneys express their normal ultrastructure and the ability for basement membrane biosynthesis. Mesangial cells in culture have been utilized particularly for the study of hormonal tissue receptors, of prostaglandin production, and of their contractile response to various hormonal stimuli. Cells of tubule origin have been a valuable tool for the study of transport mechanism which, as a consequence of the heterogeneity of nephron functions, can not be assessed in vivo. Ion transport and its structural basis, as well as transport regulation by hormones has been studied in established epithelial cell lines. Induction of ion transport and enzyme activities, and the control of cell proliferation and differentiation has also been succesfully evaluated in cultured epithelia derived from the kidney. Future work will attempt to prepare cell lines from defined nephron segments to study chemical and physical phenomena of renal disease.