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Renal cell cultures for the study of growth factor interactions underlying kidney organogenesis
L Mattii1, F Bianchi, I Da Prato
1Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, Section of Histology and General Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Pisa University, Italy.
Abstract:
The present study was performed in four renal cell lines to evaluate their capability to: (1) produce and express transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha), its respective receptor, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) and the small G protein, RhoA, and (2) exhibit morphogenetic properties when grown on Matri-cell substrates. The cell lines were derived from normal (Madin-Darby canine kidney cells), embryonic (SK-NEP-1 and 293 cells), and cancerous (human renal adenocarcinoma cells) kidneys. TGFalpha messenger ribonucleic acid, evaluated by a nonradioactive in situ hybridization technique, was found to be expressed in all the cell lines. Large amounts of TGFalpha peptide were observed in all four cell lines, while EGFr was highly expressed only in cancerous ACHN and embryonic-tumor SK-NEP-1 cells. RhoA peptide was found in appreciable amounts in SK-NEP-1 and 293 cells (compared to the other two cell lines). The morphogenetic properties of the four cell lines were assessed, by culturing them on Matri-cell dishes: SK-NEP-1 cells alone were found to grow in three-dimensional structures forming clusters and worm-like cellular aggregates. This feature was displayed by SK-NEP-1 cells but not by the other three cell lines, and may be connected with the contemporary presence of RhoA, EGFr, and TGFalpha found in significant amounts only in the SK-NEP-1 cell line.
Insights
This study investigated renal cell lines, finding that SK-NEP-1 cells uniquely express transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr), and RhoA, enabling unique morphogenetic properties.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Renal cell lines offer models to study kidney development and disease.
- Transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr), and RhoA are key signaling molecules in cell growth and differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate TGFα, EGFr, and RhoA expression in normal, embryonic, and cancerous renal cell lines.
- To assess the morphogenetic properties of these cell lines when cultured on specific substrates.
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization was used to detect TGFα messenger ribonucleic acid.
- Peptide expression of TGFα, EGFr, and RhoA was analyzed.
- Cell lines were cultured on Matri-cell substrates to observe morphogenetic behavior.
Main Results:
- All cell lines expressed TGFα messenger ribonucleic acid and peptide.
- High EGFr expression was observed in cancerous ACHN and embryonic-tumor SK-NEP-1 cells.
- SK-NEP-1 and 293 cells showed appreciable RhoA peptide levels.
- Only SK-NEP-1 cells exhibited three-dimensional growth, forming clusters and worm-like aggregates on Matri-cell substrates.
Conclusions:
- The unique morphogenetic potential of SK-NEP-1 cells may be linked to the co-expression of TGFα, EGFr, and RhoA.
- These findings highlight distinct cellular behaviors among different renal cell types.