Journal Article

Isolation and Characterization of a Primary Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cell Model from Human Kidney by CD10/CD13 Double Labeling

Perrais, Michaël, Bouillez, Audrey, Maboudou, Patrice, Cauffiez, Christelle, Zini, Laurent, Savary, Grégoire, Glowacki, François, Leroy, Xavier, Pottier, Nicolas, Gnemmi, Viviane, Aubert, Sébastien, Van der Hauwaert, Cynthia

2013

Overview

Renal proximal tubular epithelial cells play a central role in renal physiology and are among the cell types most sensitive to ischemia and xenobiotic nephrotoxicity. In order to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of kidney injuries, a stable and well-characterized primary culture model of proximal tubular cells is required. An existing model of proximal tubular cells is hampered by the cellular heterogeneity of kidney; a method based on cell sorting for specific markers must therefore be developed. In this study, we present a primary culture model based on the mechanical and enzymatic dissociation of healthy tissue obtained from nephrectomy specimens. Renal epithelial cells were sorted using co-labeling for CD10 and CD13, two renal proximal tubular epithelial markers, by flow cytometry. Their purity, phenotypic stability and functional properties were evaluated over several passages. Our results demonstrate that CD10/CD13 double-positive cells constitute a pure, functional and stable proximal tubular epithelial cell population that displays proximal tubule markers and epithelial characteristics over the long term, whereas cells positive for either CD10 or CD13 alone appear to be heterogeneous. In conclusion, this study describes a method for establishing a robust renal proximal tubular epithelial cell model suitable for further experimentation.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Analysis / Biology / CD13 antigen / CD13 Antigens - chemistry / CD13 Antigens - metabolism / Cell culture / Cell Separation / Cell Shape / Cells, Cultured / Cytometry / Diabetes / Dissociation / Electric Impedance / Enzymes / Epithelial cells / Epithelial Cells - physiology / Epithelial Cells - ultrastructure / Experimentation / Flow Cytometry / Flow stability / Heterogeneity / Homeostasis / Humans / Ischemia / Kidney transplantation / Kidney Tubules, Proximal - cytology / Kidneys / Labeling / Labelling / Markers / Medicine / Metabolism / Metabolites / Nephrectomy / Neprilysin - chemistry / Neprilysin - metabolism / Phenotype / Primary Cell Culture / Rodents / Stability analysis / Staining and Labeling / Toxicology