Growth and differentiated properties of a kidney epithelial cell line (MDCK)

The MDCK dog kidney epithelial cell line has been shown to retain the capacity for vectorial salt and fluid transport, sensitivity to growth regulation, and the ability to regenerate kidney tubular-like structures when injected into athymic nude mice. MDCK cells grown in tissue culture or in baby nude mice have the morphological properties of distal tubular cells, form tight and gap junctions, lack proximal tubular enzyme markers, and possess appreciable activities of Na+-K4-ATPase, ectoleucine aminopeptidase, and ectoalkaline phosphatase. Adenylate cyclase in intact cells is responsive to vasopressin, prostaglandins E1 and E2, and glucagon. Two Na+ transport systems have been characterized: a Na+-H+ antiport system, sensitive to amiloride inhibition, and a NaCl-KCl cotransport system, dependent on metabolic energy and sensitive to furosemide inhibition. Genetic techniques have been used to modify the properties of the cells. The results suggest that the MDCK cell line has retained the differentiated properties of the kidney epithelial cells of origin and that a clonally isolated cell possesses the receptor, transmission, and target enzyme systems necessary for the regulation of transcellular salt and fluid transport.