Cell culture models renal tubular epithelial cells

Isolated renal cortical epithelial cells and cultured cell lines have become standard in vitro model systems for examining the nephrotoxic potential of toxicants, toxicant bioactivation and direct mechanisms of toxicity. Enriched populations of freshly isolated proximal and distal tubular cells can be obtained to examine the effects of toxicants on these distinct cell populations. Growing freshly isolated cells for several days can provide primary cultures of renal cells that can be used to study transport and toxicity of compounds. Such primary cultured cells can be obtained from proximal tubule or distal tubule/col-lecting duct cells. There are also several cell lines (e.g., LLC-PKi, MDKC, HK-2) to study the effects of chemicals on renal tissue. In addition, cell lines have been developed from specific segments of the proximal tubule. Overall, these cell systems allow for the rapid screening of chemicals, exposure to apical and/ or basolateral surfaces, and more detailed studies of specific cell populations. However, cells in culture can exhibit reduced functional and metabolic characteristics with time. These changes might impact on the potential effects of some chemicals in cell culture systems. Therefore, toxicity in the specific cell line to be used should be validated prior to mechanistic studies. 

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