Tissue culture of human renal epithelial cells using a defined serum-free growth formulation.
BACKGROUND
Development of the culture of renal epithelial cells in a serum-free growth medium was driven by the need to examine the effects of hormones and other effector molecules on differentiated cell function without interference from the complex mixture of substances in serum. The present report details this laboratory's cumulative experience in the use of a defined growth medium for the propagation of epithelial cells from adult, fetal, and malignant human renal tissue.


METHODS
Routine cell culture technology was used to determine the capability of a defined growth medium to support the growth of renal epithelial cells isolated by collagenase dissociation of tissue from adult and fetal kidneys, renal cell carcinoma, and Wilms' tumors.


RESULTS
The defined growth medium formulation consistently allows the isolation and growth of transporting renal epithelial cells from both normal adult and fetal kidneys. This growth medium only rarely supports the growth of epithelial cells from renal cell carcinomas and Wilms' tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
The method developed for the culture of human proximal tubule cells requires minimal cell culture expertise and equipment, and results in the repeatable isolation of transporting epithelial cell cultures that retain features of differentiated proximal tubule cells.
Sens
D A
DA
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, Department of Pathology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-9203, USA. dsens@wvu.edu
Detrisac
C J
CJ
Sens
M A
MA
Rossi
M R
MR
Wenger
S L
SL
Todd
J H
JH
D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000473:pathology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology*; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000166:cytology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000473:pathology
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D001120:Arginine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine