Functional Properties of Proximal Tubule Cell Lines Derived from Transgenic Mice Harboring L-pyruvate Kinase-SV40 (T) Antigen Hybrid Gene

This study describes the functional characterization of two cell lines derived from the proximal convoluted (PKSV-PCT cells) and proximal straight (PKSV-PR) tubules microdissected out from kidneys of transgenic mice harboring the simian virus 40 (SV40) large T and small t antigens placed under the control of the rat L-type pyruvate kinase (L-PK) 5' regulatory sequence. Both cell lines exhibited cellular cyclic AMP stimulated by parathormone (PTH) and calcitonin (CT) and a sodium-dependent glucose transporter. Uptake of the fluid-phase marker [3H]inulin showed that both cell lines grown on filters exhibited biphasic apical and basolateral endocytic rates. Results from Northern blot analysis indicate that the expression of the T antigen gene (Tag) is dependent on the concentration of D-glucose in the medium and show that the L-PK construct has maintained its capacity for up- or down-regulation by carbohydrates. Replacement of D-glucose by neoglucogenic substrates (lactate, oxaloacetate) blunted the expression of Tag transcripts and induced arrest of cell growth. Compared to cell grown in D-glucose-enriched medium, the hormonal sensitivities to PTH and CT and the sodium-dependent glucose uptake were unchanged whereas quiescent cells exhibited increased hydrolase content. Thus the proximal function has been preserved in these cultured cells derived from tissue-specific targeted oncogenesis in transgenic mice. As the expression of Tag transcripts is controlled by D-glucose, the structural and physiological characteristics of these cell lines can be studied in either quiescent or active growth conditions.