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Glycerol toxicity for human peritoneal mesothelial cells in culture: comparison with glucose
1Department of Pathophysiology, University Medical School, Poznań, Poland.
Abstract:
Glycerol has been proposed as a substitute osmotic agent for glucose in peritoneal dialysis fluids. We have compared the effect of glycerol and glucose on the function of human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) in vitro. The viability of HPMC was not affected by glycerol (up to 250 mM), whereas it was reduced by glucose in a time- and dose-dependent manner, as assessed by the LDH release. Although the incubation of HPMC with glycerol induced a dose-dependent decrease in HPMC proliferation, the effect was significantly less inhibitory than that produced by glucose. In HPMC treated with 90 mM of glycerol or glucose the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine had reached 79.0 +/- 19.3% and 55.3 +/- 4.0% of the control (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01), respectively. As measured by the [methyl-14C]-choline incorporation, the intracellular amount of newly synthesized phospholipids was reduced from (cpm/microgram cellular protein) 147 +/- 58 in control HPMC to 59 +/- 15 in cells exposed to 90 mM of glucose (p < 0.01), but not affected by glycerol (163 +/- 65). On the other hand, both glycerol and glucose (90 mM) decreased the synthesis of proteins (as assessed by the [3H]-proline incorporation) and interfered with potassium (86Rb) transport mechanisms in HPMC. Our data suggest that there exist some possibly advantageous aspects of glycerol as far as mesothelial cell biocompatibility profile is concerned.
Insights
Glycerol shows better biocompatibility than glucose in peritoneal dialysis fluids. It preserves human peritoneal mesothelial cell viability and proliferation, unlike glucose which is cytotoxic.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Glucose is the standard osmotic agent in peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids.
- High glucose concentrations can negatively impact mesothelial cell function.
- Glycerol is being investigated as a potential alternative osmotic agent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the in vitro effects of glycerol and glucose on human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC).
- To assess the biocompatibility of glycerol versus glucose for PD applications.
Main Methods:
- Human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) were incubated with varying concentrations of glycerol and glucose.
- Cell viability was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release.
- Cell proliferation was measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation.
- Phospholipid synthesis was evaluated by [methyl-14C]-choline incorporation.
- Protein synthesis and potassium transport were also assessed.
Main Results:
- Glycerol did not affect HPMC viability, while glucose reduced it in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
- Glycerol caused less inhibition of HPMC proliferation compared to glucose.
- [3H]-thymidine incorporation was higher with glycerol (79%) than glucose (55%) compared to controls.
- Glycerol did not affect phospholipid synthesis, whereas glucose significantly reduced it.
- Both glycerol and glucose decreased protein synthesis and interfered with potassium transport.
Conclusions:
- Glycerol demonstrates a more favorable biocompatibility profile for mesothelial cells compared to glucose.
- Glycerol may be a suitable alternative osmotic agent in peritoneal dialysis fluids.
- Further research is warranted to explore glycerol's long-term effects and efficacy in PD.