Human Renal Epithelial Cells

Renal epithelial cells (REpiC) play a crucial role in renal function. Renal epithelial cells display a polarized morphology, which is essential for their function. They reabsorb nearly all of the glucose and amino acids in the glomerular filtrate, while allowing other substances of no nutritional value to be excreted in the urine. Human REpiC are also capable of internalizing bacteria and are located near injury sites in a variety of congenital, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases. REpiC can produce inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and chemokines and actively participate in acute inflammatory processes by affecting and directing leukocyte chemotaxis via the production of IL-8. REpiC express IL-2R alpha and MHC class II antigens during inflammation indicating their capacity to participate in the pathogenesis of immune renal injury. To study the relationship between HREpiC and a variety of renal diseases, the HREpiC are a useful in vitro model.

HREpiC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human kidneys. HREpiC are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 10^5 cells in 1 ml volume. HREpiC are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to cytokeratin18 and/or cytokeratin-19. HREpiC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HREpiC are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings under the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.

Recommended Medium

It is recommended to use Epithelial Cell Medium (EpiCM, Cat. #4101) for the culturing of HREpiC in vitro.