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 hormon es and other effector molecules on differentiated cell function without int erference from the complex mixture of substances in serum. The present repo rt details this laboratory's cumulative experience in the use of a defined growth medium for the propagation of epithelial cells from adult, fetal, an d malignant human renal tissue. Methods: Routine cell culture technology wa s used to determine the capability of a defined growth medium to support th e growth of renal epithelial cells isolated by collagenase dissociation of tissue from adult and fetal kidneys, renal cell carcinoma, and Wilms' tumor s. Results: The defined growth medium formulation consistently allows the i solation and growth of transporting renal epithelial cells from both normal adult and fetal kidneys. This growth medium only rarely supports the growt h of epithelial cells from renal cell carcinomas and Wilms' tumors. Conclus ions: The method developed for the culture of human proximal tubule cells r equires minimal cell culture expertise and equipment, and results in the re peatable isolation of transporting epithelial cell cultures that retain fea tures of differentiated proximal tubule cells. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.