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Updated: Sep 20, 2026

Modeling Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury in Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells
Published on: November 21, 2025
[The phenotypic transformation of renal tubular epithelial cells affected by pathological stimuli]
Ling Li1, Wanzhong Zou, Bo Zhang
1Department of Pathology, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100083, China.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of low bovine serum, high glucose and high albumin on the phenotypic transformation of cultured renal tubular epithelial cells to mesenchymal cells.
Methods:
The human kidney proximal tubular cells were cultured for 7 days in the presence of low bovine serum (0.2 mol.L-1), high glucose (4.5 g.L-1) and high albumin (15 g.L-1), and morphological changes were assessed by electronic microscopy, immunohistochemistry stain and Western blot to show the phenotypic changes, including the expressions of cytokeratin, vimentin, collagen I and III, alpha-SMA, and TGF beta 1. The expression of collagen I mRNA was assessed by in situ hybridization.
Results:
Renal tubular epithelial cells cultured in low bovine serum, high glucose and high albumin, showed obvious morphologic changes, including elongated shape, reducing of microvillus and mitochondria, increasing of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and the appearance of actin microfilaments. Immunohistochemistry stain and Western blot showed the low expression of cytokeratin and high expression of vimentin, collagen types I and III, alpha-SMA, and TGF beta 1. The increasing expression of collagen I mRNA was assessed by in situ hybridization.
Conclusion:
Lower bovine serum, high glucose and high albumin can induce the expression of TGF beta, and lead to the phenotypic transformation of tubular epithelial cells to mesenchymal cells.
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