Carbohydrate metabolism by primary cultures of rabbit proximal tubules

Enhancing maturity in 3D kidney micro-tissues through clonogenic cell combinations and endothelial integration

As an advance laboratory model, three-dimensional (3D) organoid culture has recently been recruited to study development, physiology and abnormality of kidney tissue. Micro-tissues derived from primary renal cells are composed of 3D epithelial structures representing the main characteristics of original tissue. In this research, we presented a simple method to isolate mouse renal clonogenic mesenchymal (MLCs) and epithelial-like cells (ELCs). Then we have done a full characterization of MLCs using flow cytometry for surface markers which showed that more than 93% of cells expressed these markers (Cd44, Cd73 and Cd105). Epithelial and stem/progenitor cell markers characterization also performed for ELC cells and upregulating of these markers observed while mesenchymal markers expression levels were not significantly increased in ELCs. Each of these cells were cultured either alone (ME) or in combination with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) (MEH; with an approximate ratio of 10:5:2) to generate more mature kidney structures. Analysis of 3D MEH renal micro-tissues (MEHRMs) indicated a significant increase in renal-specific gene expression including Aqp1 (proximal tubule), Cdh1 (distal tubule), Umod (loop of Henle), Wt1, Podxl and Nphs1 (podocyte markers), compared to those groups without endothelial cells, suggesting greater maturity of the former tissue. Furthermore, ex ovo transplantation showed greater maturation in the constructed 3D kidney.

Circumventing the Crabtree effect in cell culture: A systematic review

Metabolic reprogramming and mitochondrial dysfunction are central elements in a broad variety of physiological and pathological processes. While cell culture established itself as a versatile technique for the elaboration of physiology and disease, studying metabolism using standard cell culture protocols is profoundly interfered by the Crabtree effect. This phenomenon refers to the adaptation of cultured cells to a glycolytic phenotype, away from oxidative phosphorylation in glucose-containing medium, and questions the applicability of cell culture in certain fields of research. In this systematic review we aim to provide a comprehensive overview and critical appraisal of strategies reported to circumvent the Crabtree effect.

Comprehensive assessment of mitochondrial respiratory function in freshly isolated nephron segments

Changes in mitochondrial function are central to many forms of kidney disease, including acute injury, diabetic nephropathy, hypertension, and chronic kidney diseases. As such, there is an increasing need for reliable and fast methods for assessing mitochondrial respiratory function in renal cells. Despite being indispensable for many mechanistic studies, cultured cells or isolated mitochondria, however, often do not recapitulate in vivo or close to in vivo situations. Cultured and/or immortalized cells often change their bioenergetic profile and phenotype compared with in vivo or ex vivo situations, and isolated mitochondria are simply removed from their cellular milieu. This is especially important for extremely complex organs such as the kidney. Here, we report the development and validation of a new approach for the rapid assessment of mitochondrial oxygen consumption on freshly isolated glomeruli or proximal tubular fragments using Agilent SeaHorse XFe24 and XF96 Extracellular Flux Analyzers. We validated the technique in several healthy and diseased rodent models: the C57BL/6J mouse, the diabetic db/db mouse and matching db/+ control mouse, and the Dahl salt-sensitive rat. We compared the data to respiration from isolated mitochondria. The method can be adapted and used for the rapid assessment of mitochondrial oxygen consumption from any rodent model of the investigator's choice. The isolation methods presented here ensure viable and functional proximal tubular fragments and glomeruli, with a preserved cellular environment for studying mitochondrial function within the context of their surroundings and interactions.

Shear stress and oxygen availability drive differential changes in opossum kidney proximal tubule cell metabolism and endocytosis

Kidney proximal tubule (PT) cells have high-metabolic demands to drive the extraordinary ion and solute transport, water reabsorption, and endocytic uptake that occur in this nephron segment. Increases in renal blood flow alter glomerular filtration rate and lead to rapid mechanosensitive adaptations in PT transport, impacting metabolic demand. Although the PT reabsorbs essentially all of the filtered glucose, PT cells rely primarily on oxidative metabolism rather than glycolysis to meet their energy demands. We lack an understanding of how PT functions are impacted by changes in O₂ availability via cortical capillaries and mechanosensitive signaling in response to alterations in luminal flow. Previously, we found that opossum kidney (OK) cells recapitulate key features of PT cells in vivo, including enhanced endocytic uptake and ion transport, when exposed to mechanical stimulation by culture on an orbital shaker. We hypothesized that increased oxygenation resulting from orbital shaking also contributes to this more physiologic phenotype. RNA seq of OK cells maintained under static conditions or exposed to orbital shaking for up to 96 hours showed significant time- and culture-dependent changes in gene expression. Transcriptional and metabolomics data were consistent with a decrease in glycolytic flux and with an increased utilization of aerobic metabolic pathways in cells exposed to orbital shaking. Moreover, we found spatial differences in the pattern of mitogenesis vs development of ion transport and endocytic capacities in our culture system that highlight the complexity of O₂ -dependent and mechanosensitive crosstalk to regulate PT cell function.

Autofluorescence lifetime imaging of cellular metabolism: Sensitivity toward cell density, pH, intracellular, and intercellular heterogeneity

Autofluorescence imaging (AFI) has greatly accelerated in the last decade, way past its origins in detecting endogenous signals in biological tissues to identify differences between samples. There are many endogenous fluorescence sources of contrast but the most robust and widely utilized have been those associated with metabolism. The intrinsically fluorescent metabolic cofactors nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ /NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD/FADH2 ) have been utilized in a number of AFI applications including basic research, clinical, and pharmaceutical studies. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) has emerged as one of the more powerful AFI tools for NADH and FAD characterization due to its unique ability to noninvasively detect metabolite bound and free states and quantitate cellular redox ratio. However, despite this widespread biological use, many standardization methods are still needed to extend FLIM-based AFI into a fully robust research and clinical diagnostic tools. FLIM is sensitive to a wide range of factors in the fluorophore microenvironment, and there are a number of analysis variables as well. To this end, there has been an emphasis on developing imaging standards and ways to make the image acquisition and analysis more consistent. However, biological conditions during FLIM-based AFI imaging are rarely considered as key sources of FLIM variability. Here, we present several experimental factors with supporting data of the cellular microenvironment such as confluency, pH, inter-/intracellular heterogeneity, and choice of cell line that need to be considered for accurate quantitative FLIM-based AFI measurement of cellular metabolism. © 2018 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.

Isolation, Characterization, And High Throughput Extracellular Flux Analysis of Mouse Primary Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells

Mitochondrial dysfunction in the renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) can lead to renal fibrosis, a major cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, assessing mitochondrial function in primary TECs may provide valuable insight into the bioenergetic status of the cells, providing insight into the pathophysiology of CKD. While there are a number of complex protocols available for the isolation and purification of proximal tubules in different species, the field lacks a cost-effective method optimized for tubular cell isolation without the need for purification. Here, we provide an isolation protocol that allows for studies focusing on both primary mouse proximal and distal renal TECs. In addition to cost-effective reagents and minimal animal procedures required in this protocol, the isolated cells maintain high energy levels after isolation and can be sub-cultured up to four passages, allowing for continuous studies. Furthermore, using a high throughput extracellular flux analyzer, we assess the mitochondrial respiration directly in the isolated TECs in a 96-well plate for which we provide recommendations for the optimization of cell density and compound concentration. These observations suggest that this protocol can be used for renal tubular ex vivo studies with a consistent, well-standardized production of renal TECs. This protocol may have broader future applications to study mitochondrial dysfunction associated with renal disorders for drug discovery or drug characterization purposes.

The establishment of a primary culture system of proximal tubule segments using specific markers from normal mouse kidneys

The proximal tubule contains the highest expression of angiotensinogen mRNA and protein within the kidney and plays a vital role in the renal renin-angiotensin system. To study the regulation of angiotensinogen expression in the kidney in more detail, the proximal tubule needs to be accurately isolated from the rest of the nephron and separated into its three segments. The purpose of this study was to design a novel protocol using specific markers for the separation of proximal tubule cells into the three proximal tubule segments and to determine angiotensinogen expression in each segment. Kidneys were removed from C57BL/6J mice. The proximal tubules were aspirated from region of a Percoll gradient solution of the appropriate density. The proximal tubule was then separated into its three segments using segment-specific membrane proteins, after which each segment was characterized by a different specific marker (sodium-glucose transporter 2 for Segment 1; carbonic anhydrase IV for Segment 2; ecto-adenosine triphosphatase for Segment 3). The isolation of proximal tubules into three segments was successful, and angiotensinogen mRNA in Segment 2 and 3 and angiotensinogen protein in all three segments were confirmed. This protocol will be helpful for future studies of the detailed mechanisms of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system.

Primary mouse renal tubular epithelial cells have variable injury tolerance to ischemic and chemical mediators of oxidative stress

We have developed and evaluated an in vitro culture method for assessing ischemic injury in primary mouse renal tubular epithelial cells (RTEC) in which to explore the pathobiology underlying acute kidney injury. RTEC were predominately of proximal tubule origin which is most susceptible to ischemic injury as compared to other nephron segments. Oxidative stress was induced by chemically depleting ATP using Antimycin A and 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose and by exposing cells to a 1% oxygen environment. Necrotic injury was assessed by measuring LDH released into culture supernatants. Optimal dose and time of exposure to each injury agent was determined for induction of mild, moderate and severe ischemic injury defined as LDH release of </= 20%, 21-49% and >/= 50% above baseline respectively. Antimycin A and 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose produced a progressive increase in LDH release which was time dependent but chemical concentration independent. A 1% oxygen environment also induced cell injury over time but only if glucose was absent from the culture media. Antimycin A was most effective at inducing oxidative stress causing a mean LDH release of 61% at 48 hr compared to 19% and 50% LDH release induced by 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose and by exposure to 1% oxygen respectively at the same 48 hour time point.The cell culture method described provides several advantages including the use of serum free media and the ability to grow primary cells without matrix support. The LDH assay for injury assessment is reproducible, cost effective, objective and minimizes background cell death. A simple method for the culture and injury of primary mouse renal tubular epithelial cells has thereby been established and provides a useful tool for future investigations of ischemic kidney injury.

Protection of HIF-1-deficient primary renal tubular epithelial cells from hypoxia-induced cell death is glucose dependent

Ischemic acute renal failure is a frequent clinical problem in hospitalized patients and is associated with significant mortality. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) mediates cellular adaptation to hypoxia by regulating biological processes important for cell survival, which include glycolysis, angiogenesis, erythropoiesis, apoptosis, and proliferation. To investigate the role of HIF-1 in hypoxia-induced renal epithelial cell death, we generated mice that allow inactivation of HIF-1α by tetracycline-inducible Cre-loxP-mediated recombination in primary renal proximal tubule cells (PRPTC), resulting in a suppression of HIF-1-mediated gene transcription during oxygen deprivation. In the absence of glucose, the onset and the degree of hypoxia-induced cell death in HIF-1-deficient PRPTC were comparable to wild-type cells. However, when glucose availability was limited, the onset of cell death was delayed in either PRPTC that were HIF-1 deficient or in wild-type PRPTC when glycolysis or glucose uptake was partially inhibited. Our findings suggest in an in vitro genetic model that 1) the generation of adequate energy levels for the maintenance of PRPTC viability under hypoxia does not require HIF-1 and 2) that HIF-1 regulates the timing of hypoxia-induced cell death and apoptosis onset through its effects on glucose consumption.

Decreased actin solubility observed during ATP-depletion is mimicked by severing agents but not depolymerizing agents in isolated and cultured proximal tubular cells

The microvilli of the apical membrane of proximal tubule (PT) cells are supported by the underlying actin cytoskeleton. Ischaemic or anoxic ATP-depletion leads to the disruption of the actin cytoskeleton, resulting in microvillar retraction and loss of membrane polarity. Using isolated PT cells, we have previously demonstrated that actin filaments (F-actin) are likely severed during ATP-depletion. A sequential extraction protocol revealed a decrease in actin solubility, resulting in the sequestration of a distinct F-actin pool with the insoluble cellular complex in ATP-depleted PT cells. We demonstrate here that decreased actin solubility is not only a reliable end-marker of ATP-depletion induced injury in freshly isolated PT cells, but also serves as a biochemical marker in the cultured proximal tubular cell line LLC-PK1. In the present studies, we also investigated specific actin-binding drugs to determine if they mimic the effects observed during energy depletion. Jasplakinolide (JP), a compound which binds F-actin and prevents depolymerization, did not effect actin solubility during ATP-depletion. Furthermore, swinholide A (SA), an F-actin severing agent, resulted in decreased actin solubility, mimicking the effects of ATP-depletion. Interestingly, latrunculin A (LA), an agent which depolymerizes F-actin, did not reduce actin solubility, but rather resulted in an increase in digitonin-soluble actin. Taken collectively, our results support previous work and suggest that disruption of the actin cytoskeleton during ATP-depletion is mediated by F-actin severing/fragmentation and not depolymerization. The differential effects of F-actin disrupting agents and the consistencies observed in both models of ischaemic injury will provide a basis for a more detailed understanding of the pathological events of PT-cell dysfunction.

A mechanism regulating proteolysis of specific proteins during renal tubular cell growth

Growth factors suppress the degradation of cellular proteins in lysosomes in renal epithelial cells. Whether this process also involves specific classes of proteins that influence growth processes is unknown. We investigated chaperone-mediated autophagy, a lysosomal import pathway that depends on the 73-kDa heat shock cognate protein and allows the degradation of proteins containing a specific lysosomal import consensus sequence (KFERQ motif). Epidermal growth factor (EGF) or ammonia, but not transforming growth factor beta1, suppresses total protein breakdown in cultured NRK-52E renal epithelial cells. EGF or ammonia prolonged the half-life of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, a classic substrate for chaperone-mediated autophagy, by more than 90%, whereas transforming growth factor beta1 did not. EGF caused a similar increase in the half-life of the KFERQ-containing paired box-related transcription factor, Pax2. The increase in half-life was accompanied by an increased accumulation of proteins with a KFERQ motif including glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and Pax2. Ammonia also increased the level of the Pax2 protein. Lysosomal import of KFERQ proteins depends on the abundance of the 96-kDa lysosomal glycoprotein protein (lgp96), and we found that EGF caused a significant decrease in lgp96 in cellular homogenates and associated with lysosomes. We conclude that EGF in cultured renal cells regulates the breakdown of proteins targeted for destruction by chaperone-mediated autophagy. Because suppression of this pathway results in an increase in Pax2, these results suggest a novel mechanism for the regulation of cell growth.

Acute renal failure. II. Experimental models of acute renal failure: imperfect but indispensable

Acute renal failure (ARF) due to ischemic or toxic renal injury, a clinical syndrome traditionally referred to as acute tubular necrosis (ATN), is a common disease with a high overall mortality of approximately 50%. Little progress has been made since the advent of dialysis more than 30 years ago in improving this outcome. During this same period, a considerable amount of basic research has been devoted to elucidating the pathophysiology of ATN. The ultimate goal of this research is to facilitate the development of therapeutic interventions that either prevent ARF, ameliorate the severity of tubular injury following an acute ischemic or toxic renal insult, or accelerate the recovery of established ATN. This research endeavor has been highly successful in elucidating many vascular and tubular abnormalities that are likely to be involved in ischemic and toxic ARF. This information has led to impressive advances in the development of a number of different pharmacological interventions that are highly effective in ameliorating the renal dysfunction in animal models of ARF. Although these developments are exciting and promising, enthusiasm of investigators involved in this endeavor has been tempered somewhat by the results of a few recent clinical studies of patients with ATN. These trials, designed to examine the efficacy in humans of some of the interventions effective in animal models of ARF, have resulted in little or no benefit. This is therefore an important time to reevaluate the approaches we have taken over the past three to four decades to develop new and effective treatments for ATN in humans. The major goals of this review are 1) to evaluate the relevance and utility of the experimental models currently available to study ischemic and toxic renal injury, 2) to suggest novel experimental approaches and models that have the potential to provide advantages over methods currently available, 3) to discuss ways of integrating results obtained from different experimental models of acute renal injury and of evaluating the relevance of these findings to ATN in humans, and 4) to discuss the difficulties inherent in clinical studies of ATN and to suggest how studies should be best designed to overcome these problems.

Transporters for cationic amino acids in animal cells: discovery, structure, and function

The structure and function of the four cationic amino acid transporters identified in animal cells are discussed. The systems differ in specificity, cation dependence, and physiological role. One of them, system y+, is selective for cationic amino acids, whereas the others (B[0,+], b[0,+], and y+ L) also accept neutral amino acids. In recent years, cDNA clones related to these activities have been isolated. Thus two families of proteins have been identified: 1) CAT or cationic amino acid transporters and 2) BAT or broad-scope transport proteins. In the CAT family, three genes encode for four different isoforms [CAT-1, CAT-2A, CAT-2(B) and CAT-3]; these are approximately 70-kDa proteins with multiple transmembrane segments (12-14), and despite their structural similarity, they differ in tissue distribution, kinetics, and regulatory properties. System y+ is the expression of the activity of CAT transporters. The BAT family includes two isoforms (rBAT and 4F2hc); these are 59- to 78-kDa proteins with one to four membrane-spanning segments, and it has been proposed that these proteins act as transport regulators. The expression of rBAT and 4F2hc induces system b[0,+] and system y+ L activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes, respectively. The roles of these transporters in nutrition, endocrinology, nitric oxide biology, and immunology, as well as in the genetic diseases cystinuria and lysinuric protein intolerance, are reviewed. Experimental strategies, which can be used in the kinetic characterization of coexpressed transporters, are also discussed.

Hypoxia decreases calcium influx into rat proximal tubules

Renal ischemia results in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, particularly in cells of the proximal tubule (PT), which rely heavily on oxidative phosphorylation for energy supply. Lack of ATP leads to a disturbance in intracellular homeostasis of Na+, K+ and Cl-. Also, cytosolic Ca2+ levels in renal PTs may increase during hypoxia [1], presumably by a combination of impaired extrusion and enhanced influx [2]. However, Ca2+ influx was previously measured using radiolabeled Ca2+ and at varying partial oxygen tension [2]. We have now used to Mn2(+)-induced quenching of fura-2 fluorescence to study Ca2+ influx in individual rat PTs during normoxic and hypoxic superfusion. Normoxic Ca2+ influx was indeed reflected by the Mn2+ quenching of fura-2 fluorescence and this influx could be inhibited by the calcium entry blocker methoxyverapamil (D600; inhibition 50 +/- 2% and 35 +/- 3% for 10 and 100 mumol, respectively). La3+ completely blocked normoxic Ca2+ influx. Hypoxic superfusion or rat PTs did not induce an increase in Ca2+ influx, but reduced this influx to 79 +/- 3% of the normoxic control. We hypothesize that reducing Ca2+ influx during hypoxia provides the cell with a means to prevent cellular Ca2+ overload during ATP-depletion, where Ca2+ extrusion is limited.

Morphological and biochemical characterization of primary culture of rabbit proximal kidney tubule cells grown on collagen-IV coated Millicell-CM

The aim of this study was to better characterize rabbit proximal kidney tubule cells cultured on collagen IV-coated porous inserts, as compared to the same cells seeded in standard plastic wells. Total protein contents in confluent monolayers on permeable membranes were about twofold higher than those measured in confluent cultures in plastic wells. Microscopy examinations suggested that such a difference was probably due to a higher cell density and to an impressive development of the apical brush-border membrane. Moreover, measurement of unidirectional transport of p-aminohippuric acid and tetraethylammonium bromide confirmed the high polarization level of cultures on porous inserts. Results of methyl(alpha-D-[U-14C]glyco)pyranoside uptake suggested that cell phenotype was probably influenced by culture conditions. Analysis of different markers as a function of time in culture showed decreases of alkaline phosphatase (AP), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activities as well as increases in LDH, ATP, and glutathione levels, similar to those formerly reported for cells cultured in standard plastic plates. However, comparative data from 6-d-old monolayers have shown that AP, GGT, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, glutathione reductase (GRED), and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPX) activities were 2.8-, 2.6-, 1.6-, 1.2-, and 2.1-fold, respectively, better preserved on precoated permeable membranes. On the other hand, this paper reports for the first time in the literature that GRED and SE-GPX, two phase II detoxification enzymes, were well maintained in cultures of rabbit proximal kidney tubule cells. Our results show that culturing rabbit proximal kidney tubule cells on collagen IV-coated porous membranes was accompanied by an improvement of both morphological and biochemical properties of the cells.

Thyroid hormone upregulates Na,K-ATPase alpha and beta mRNA in primary cultures of proximal tubule cells

In vivo studies have demonstrated that thyroid hormone regulates the activity of Na,K-ATPase in the mammalian kidney. However, it is still unclear whether upregulation of Na,K-ATPase by thyroid hormone is mediated through the direct action on renal tubule cells or through other mediators, such as an increase in glomerular filtration rate. Using primary cultures of rabbit renal proximal tubule cells, studies were undertaken to elucidate this problem. We found that Na,K-ATPase activity was increased by 26 +/- 8%, 30 +/- 9%, 39 +/- 9% after 24-h treatment with T3 of 10(-11), 10(-9), 10(-7) M, respectively. We further demonstrated that 24-h incubation of T3 (10(-7) M) enhanced alpha- and beta-protein abundance by 44 +/- 29% and 31 +/- 16%, and alpha- and beta-mRNA levels by 84 +/- 27% and 65 +/- 11%, respectively. The time course studies revealed that the significant increase in Na,K-ATPase activity, alpha- and beta-protein and mRNA abundance didn't appear until 24-h of T3 treatment. Our data indicate that thyroid hormone directly upregulates Na,K-ATPase in proximal tubule cells via a pretranslational mechanism.

N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) isoenzymes in primary cultures of rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells: a cellular model for studies on nephrotoxicity?

N-Acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) isoenzyme profile in primary cultures of rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells was studied. Confluent cells had high levels of NAG activity, but ion exchange chromatography showed that the NAG isoenzyme profile in cultured cells was different from that of rabbit renal cortex homogenates and freshly isolated cells. Confluent cultured cells contained an atypical acidic isoform, absent in homogenates and freshly isolated cells in which the predominant isoform is NAG-A (a heterodimer alpha beta). The fact that this atypical isoform was able to hydrolyse the synthetic substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-N-acetylglucosaminide-6-sulphate indicated that it probably was an alpha-subunit homodimer. These results suggest subunit rearrangement within NAG polypeptide chains linked to down-regulation of beta-subunit production in cultured rabbit proximal cells. The change in isoenzyme profile in cultured cells may make it difficult to use primary cultures of rabbit proximal tubule cells to establish correlations between in vitro and in vivo studies using NAG isoenzymes as a nephrotoxicity index, as illustrated by the effects of gentamicin.

Changes in [Ca2+]i in cultured rat proximal tubular epithelium: an in vitro model for renal ischemia

Two components of ischemia, oxygen deprivation and glycolytic inhibition, were studied in primary cultures of rat proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTE). Changes in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and its relationship to loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m) and cell killing were characterized in single cells whereas ATP and LDH release were determined in populations of monolayer PTE. (1) Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration with KCN or anoxia resulted in little decrease in ATP or cell killing and slight change in [Ca2+]i over many hours. (2) Inhibition of respiration and glycolysis with anoxic HBSS minus glucose resulted in decreased ATP (54.4%) and cell killing (20%) during 5 h anoxic exposure. In all cases, but at highly variable times (113 +/- 62 min), [Ca2+]i initially rose to > 1 microM. In some cases it immediately dropped, stabilizing at about 500 nM for up to 1 h and rising again just prior to cell death. (3) Inhibition with anoxia + 1 mM IAA resulted in rapid depletion of ATP and cell killing, with increases in [Ca2+]i to > 1 microM by 20 +/- 2 min. (4) Depletion of glycolytic metabolites by depriving cells of substrate for 12 h (in HBSS minus glucose) before subjecting to anoxia minus glucose resulted in increases in [Ca2+]i at 40 +/- 17 min followed by cell killing. (5) Injury with anoxic HBSS minus glucose was reversed by reaeration before or during the initial rise in [Ca2+]i. Later reaeration resulted in rapid cell killing. In all cases, delta psi m was dissipated only after [Ca2+]i was significantly elevated.

Protein degradation in kidney proximal tubule cell monolayers

Isolated proximal tubule cells have been labelled with L-[4,5-3H]leucine prior to cell division. Histochemical staining demonstrated the purity of the cultures. The bicarbonate ion or a collagen support was required for cell growth. Different culture growth rates were established by varying these parameters. The proximal tubule marker enzyme, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, was expressed throughout the culture period (7-10 days) and the cells undergo a glycolytic shift, shown by an increase in the levels of lactate dehydrogenase. The specific activities of these enzymes were related to the growth conditions. Exponential rates of protein degradation were observed. The uptake of labelled exogenous hepatocyte proteins in proximal tubule cell cultures was completely suppressed in the presence of serum (10%, v/v) showing that endocytosis did not contribute to the observed measurements of intracellular protein degradation. The increased growth rates seen in cultures were accompanied by decreased rates of protein degradation. Use of the inhibitors of proteolysis, leupeptin and ammonium chloride, showed that the decrease was at the lysosomal level. The results suggest that targeting of inhibitors of lysosomal proteolysis, via low-molecular-weight proteins, may be useful in stimulating tubular regeneration in kidney disease.

Decreasing glycolysis increases sensitivity to mitochondrial inhibition in primary cultures of renal proximal tubule cells

We have previously shown that shaking the culture plates (SHAKE) of rabbit renal proximal tubule cells (RPTC) to maintain adequate aeration increased aerobic metabolism and decreased the induction of glycolysis compared to RPTC cultured under standard conditions (STILL). However, glycolysis in SHAKE RPTC remained elevated compared to glycolysis in proximal tubules in vivo. In the present study the contribution of culture medium sugar composition and concentration to glycolytic metabolism was assessed in RPTC. SHAKE and STILL RPTC cultured in 5 mM glucose contained lactate levels equivalent to the respective SHAKE and STILL RPTC cultured in standard culture medium which contains 17.5 mM glucose. Similarly, the activity of lactate dehydrogenase was unchanged by lowering the medium glucose concentration. Substituting 5 mM galactose for 5 mM glucose in the culture medium significantly reduced the lactate content of both SHAKE and STILL RPTC but had no effect on lactate dehydrogenase activity. Cell growth was equivalent under all culture conditions. Sensitivity to mitochondrial inhibition was determined for each culture condition by measuring cell death after exposure to the respiratory inhibitor antimycin A. The results showed a hierarchy of sensitivity to antimycin A (5 mM galactose SHAKE > 5 mM glucose SHAKE > 17.5 mM glucose SHAKE = 17.5 mM glucose STILL), which was generally inversely correlated with the level of glycolysis as measured by lactate content (17.5 mM glucose STILL > 17.5 mM glucose SHAKE = 5 mM glucose SHAKE > 5 mM galactose SHAKE).

The role of short chain fatty acid substrates in aerobic and glycolytic metabolism in primary cultures of renal proximal tubule cells

This study examined the role of odd and even short-chain fatty acid substrates on aerobic and glycolytic metabolism in well-aerated primary cultures of rabbit renal proximal tubule cells (RPTC). Increasing oxygen delivery to primary cultures of RPTC by shaking the dishes (SHAKE) reduced total lactate levels and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and reduced net glucose consumption compared to RPTC cultured under standard conditions (STILL). The addition of butyrate, valerate, heptanoate, or octanoate to SHAKE RPTC produced variable effects on glycolytic metabolism. Although butyrate and heptanoate further reduced total lactate levels and net glucose consumption during short-term culture (< 24 h), no fatty acid tested further reduced total lactate levels, net glucose consumption, or LDH activity during long-term culture (7 days). During the first 12 h of culture, maintenance of aerobic metabolism in SHAKE RPTC was dependent on medium supplementation with fatty acid substrates (2 mM). However, by 24 h, SHAKE RPTC did not require fatty acid substrates to maintain levels of aerobic metabolism equivalent to freshly isolated proximal tubules and greater than STILL RPTC. This suggests that SHAKE RPTC undergo adaptive changes between 12 and 24 h of culture, which give RPTC the ability to utilize other substrates for mitochondrial oxidation, therefore allowing greater expression of mitochondrial oxidative potential in SHAKE RPTC than in STILL RPTC.

Effect of glucose and insulin deprivation on differentiation and carbohydrate metabolism of rabbit proximal tubular cells in primary culture

Rabbit proximal tubule cells in primary culture revert from gluconeogenesis to glycolysis. To determine whether glucose and insulin deprivation of the culture medium could prevent this metabolic conversion without a loss of differentiation, rabbit proximal tubule cells were cultured in hormonally defined medium free of glucose and insulin and compared to rabbit proximal tubule cells cultured in medium supplemented with 17.5 mM glucose and 5 micrograms/ml insulin. In the two culture conditions, RPT cells grew at a similar rate and reached confluency within 4-5 days. Patterns of enzyme activity, including brush-border hydrolases, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and glutathione-S-transferases as a function of culture time were comparable in the two media. During the growth phase in glucose- and insulin-free medium, cells showed higher sodium-dependent glucose uptake. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a high density of microvilli at confluency regardless of the culture conditions. In both the presence and absence of glucose and insulin, the activities of gluconeogenic enzymes, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, as well as basal and pyruvate-stimulated glucose production fell markedly as a function of time. By contrast, glucose and insulin deprivation greatly reduced both the lactate production rate and the activities of glycolytic enzymes, pyruvate kinase, hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase.

The effect of L-type Ca2+ channel blockers on anoxia-induced increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in rabbit proximal tubule cells in primary culture

Ca2+ channel blockers (CCB) have been shown to be protective against ischaemic damage of the kidney, suggesting an important role for intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in generating cell damage. To delineate the mechanism behind this protective effect, we studied [Ca2+]i in cultured proximal tubule (PT) cells during anoxia in the absence of glycolysis and the effect of methoxyverapamil (D 600) and felodipine on [Ca2+]i during anoxia. A method was developed whereby [Ca2+]i in cultured PT cells could be measured continuously with a fura-2 imaging technique during anoxic periods up to 60 min. Complete absence of O2 was realised by inclusion of a mixture of oxygenases in an anoxic chamber. [Ca2+]i in PT cells started to rise after 10 min of anoxia and reached maximal levels at 30 min, which remained stable up to 60 min. The onset of this increase and the maximal levels reached varied markedly among individual cells. The mean values for normoxic and anoxic [Ca2+]i were 118 +/- 2 (n = 98) and 662 +/- 22 (n = 160) nM, respectively. D 600 (1 microM), but not felodipine (10 microM), significantly reduced basal [Ca2+]i in normoxic incubations. During anoxia 1 microM and 100 microM D 600 significantly decreased anoxic [Ca2+]i levels by 22 and 63% respectively. Felodipine at 10 microM was as effective as 1 microM D 600. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ and addition of 0.1 mM La3+ completely abolished anoxia-induced increases in [Ca2+]i. We conclude that anoxia induces increases in [Ca2+]i in rabbit PT cells in primary culture, which results from Ca2+ influx. Since this Ca2+ influx is partially inhibited by low doses of CCBs, L-type Ca2+ channels may be involved.

A basolateral lactate/H+ co-transporter in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells

Monolayers of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells grown on permeable filters generated lactate aerobically and accumulated it preferentially in the basolateral compartment, suggesting the presence of a lactate carrier. The mechanism of lactate transport across apical and basolateral membranes was examined by determining intracellular pH (pHi) microspectrofluorimetrically after addition of lactate to the extracellular solutions and by measuring uptake of [14C]lactate. Addition of 20 mM lactate to the apical compartment produced no change in pHi, whereas lactate added to the basolateral compartment rapidly and reversibly lowered pHi. Pyruvate produced similar results. Inhibitors of lactate/H+ co-transporters, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (CnCN) and quercetin, partially inhibited the fall in pHi produced by basolateral lactate. In contrast, the disulphonic stilbene. DIDS (4,4'-di-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid) produced no inhibition at 0.5 mM. Kinetic analysis was performed by applying basolateral lactate at various concentrations and measuring the rate of entry (delta pHi/min) in the presence and absence of CnCN. Lactate flux was shown to occur by both non-ionic diffusion and a alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate-sensitive component (carrier). The latter has a Km of approximately 7 mM for the lactate anion. Propionate, but not formate, lowered pHi to the same degree as did equimolar lactate, but the propionate effect was not inhibited by CnCN. Influx of [14C]lactate was substantially greater across the basolateral membrane than across the apical membrane and occurred in the absence of Na+. We conclude that MDCK cells grown on permeable filters generate lactate aerobically and transport it across the basolateral membrane by way of a lactate/H+ cotransporter.

Transport of a large neutral amino acid in a human intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco-2): uptake and efflux of phenylalanine

The processes of L-phenylalanine (Phe) uptake and efflux from the apical (AP) and basolateral (BL) sides of an intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco-2) were investigated to further characterize the mechanism of transcellular transport of this amino acid. The results indicated that the initial uptake rates of Phe were saturable with a Km of 2.7 mM for AP uptake and 0.18 mM for BL uptake. Unlike the uptake, the initial efflux rates were shown to be proportional to the intracellular concentrations of Phe. Based on these kinetic studies and determination of other characteristics (e.g., Na+ dependency) of the uptake and efflux processes, it was concluded that AP uptake, BL uptake and BL efflux were distinctly different. This suggests that either different carriers or a different combination of carriers are responsible for the transmembrane transport of this amino acid. When the results of kinetic studies of Phe uptake and efflux were used to determine the rate-limiting step in the AP-to-BL transcellular transport of this amino acid, it was concluded that the BL efflux is the rate-limiting step in the transcellular transport of Phe in the Caco-2 cell monolayers.

Renal proximal tubule cell cultures for studying drug-induced nephrotoxicity and modulation of phenotype expression by medium components

The characteristics of two established renal cell lines (LLC-PKI and OK) and of primary cultures of rabbit and human proximal tubule cells are described by summarizing the literature about specific properties retained by these cells in culture. Furthermore, comparative biochemical and functional properties are presented including both specific marker enzymes and transport properties of these cells grown in various media. The impact of culture medium composition on the expressed cellular phenotype is discussed and its consequences on the profile of toxic response due to aminoglycoside antibiotics is analyzed. The in vitro nephrotoxicity of three platinum-containing coordination complexes which exhibited different in vivo nephrotoxic potentials is studied by another technique in a model of rabbit proximal tubule cells in primary cultures in order to correlate results to in vivo data and to define reliable and sensitive parameters for the assessment of platinum-derivative-induced nephrotoxicity. Although animal cell lines have been established in serum-supplemented medium, LLC-PK1 and OK cells as well as primary cultures of proximal tubules are successfully grown in hormonally defined medium, the standardization of which is better controlled for nephrotoxicity studies.

Reactive oxygen species and rat renal epithelial cells during hypoxia and reoxygenation

To study the importance of oxygen free radical production by and injury to proximal tubule epithelial cells, an in vitro model was established. Rat renal proximal tubule epithelial cells in primary culture were subjected to normoxic conditions or 60 minutes of hypoxia and 30 minutes of reoxygenation. Under normoxic conditions, these cells produced superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical. During hypoxia and reoxygenation, there was an increase in the production of these reactive oxygen species, detected in the extracellular medium, of 252, 226, and 45 percent, respectively. The production rate of superoxide radical was most markedly increased in the first five minutes of reoxygenation. Studies employing 2,7-dichlorofluorescein which fluoresces when oxidized by peroxides revealed a seven-fold increase in cellular fluorescence in cells studied after hypoxia and reoxygenation compared with control cells. That increased production of reactive oxygen species played a role in cellular injury was demonstrated by an increase in lipid peroxidation during hypoxia and reoxygenation, as well as substantial injury during hypoxia and reoxygenation which could be largely prevented by the addition of superoxide dismutase, catalase, dimethylthiourea, or deferoxamine to the cells. These studies demonstrate that proximal tubule epithelial cells produce reactive oxygen species in increased amounts during hypoxia and reoxygenation, and that these reactive oxygen species are injurious to the cells under these conditions.

Biochemical, functional, and morphological characterization of a primary culture of rabbit proximal tubule cells

Primary cultures of renal rabbit proximal tubule cells were initiated from a pure suspension of proximal tubule fragments. Proximal tubule cells were grown in a hormone-supplemented, serum-free medium containing low concentrations of antibiotics. Confluent monolayers exhibited multicellular dome formation, indicating the presence of transepithelial solute and water transport. Ultrastructural examination revealed a monolayer of polarized epithelial cells with tight junctions and sparse membraneous microvilli facing the culture medium. Time course biochemical characterization was performed using a palette of 12 enzymes, representative of important metabolic functions or pathways. Brush-border-associated enzymes (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminopeptidase) were moderately reduced throughout the culture whereas alkaline phosphatase was markedly decreased at confluency. Mitochondrial and lysosomal marker enzymes were well preserved over the culture period. Glutathione-S-transferase activity remained stable during the 16-day culture period investigated. Glycolysis enzyme activities (lactate dehydrogenase and hexokinase) were enhanced, as a function of culture age. Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity rise was concomitant with the increase of glycolysis marker enzymes. In contrast, the gluconeogenesis marker enzyme, glucose-6-phosphatase, fell dramatically to reach a low level equivalent to 4% of the activity measured in isolated proximal tubules. Primary cultures exhibited several differentiated functions of the proximal tubule cell: (a) PTH alone was able to induce a significant stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity, unlike isoproterenol, thyrocalcitonin, and arginine vasopressin, and (b) sodium-dependent alpha-methylglucoside (AMG) transport was detected. This AMG uptake was selectively inhibited by phlorizin (5 X 10(-3) M), which is a competitive inhibitor of glucose uptake at the apical membrane. Complete characterization made it possible to investigate hitherto unexplored aspects of in vitro cultured proximal tubule cells. This primary culture model could provide a useful and reliable tool to investigate in vitro renal proximal tubule function, under normal conditions or after a drug-induced toxicity.

Adenylate cyclase responses and biochemical characterization of primary rabbit proximal tubular cell cultures and LLC-PK1 cells

Freshly isolated rabbit proximal tubules (PT), confluent primary rabbit proximal tubule cultures (PTC) and LLC-PK1 cells were characterised. Brushborder enzyme activities were lower in PTC than in LLC-PK1: ratios were 0.026 for alkaline phosphatase (AP), 0.458 for alanine aminopeptidase (AAP) and 0.514 for gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). PT/PTC ratios were 79.7 for AP, 7.96 for AAP and 3.45 for GGT. Specific activities of hexokinase (HK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were high in cultured cells as compared to PT: PT/PTC ratios were 0.063 and 0.033, while PTC/LLC-PK1 ratios were 0.406 and 1.19 for HK and LDH respectively. PTC/LLC-PK1 ratios were 2.21 for Na/K ATPase, 2.07 for succinate dehydrogenase, 1.12 for cathepsin B, 0.607 for N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and 8.98 for glutathione-S-transferase. Adenylate cyclase response to parathormone (PTH), was similar in PTC and PT, but stimulated/basal ratios were higher in PT than in PTC. LLC-PK1 cells were stimulated by thyrocalcitonin (SCT), arginin-vasopressin (AVP) and PTH; stimulated/basal ratios ranked AVP greater than PTH greater than SCT. Differences between both types of cultures affect the choice of in vitro model for nephrotoxicity studies.