Skip to main content

Propagation, Culture, and Characterization of Renal Fibroblasts

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Kidney Research

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2664))

  • 520 Accesses

Abstract

The renal fibroblast, and phenotypically related myofibroblast, are universally present in all forms of progressive kidney disease. The in vitro study of the fibroblast, its behaviour, and factors affecting its activity is therefore key to understanding both its role and significance. In this protocol, we describe a reproducible method for selective propagation and culture of primary renal fibroblasts from kidney cortex. Techniques for their isolation, subculture, characterization, and cryogenic storage and retrieval are described in detail.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Bohle A, Mackensen-Haen S, von Gise H (1987) Significance of tubulointerstitial changes in the renal cortex for the excretory function and concentration ability of the kidney: a morphometric contribution. Am J Nephrol 7(6):421–433

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Sharpe CC, Dockrell ME, Noor MI, Monia BP, Hendry BM (2000) Role of Ras isoforms in the stimulated proliferation of human renal fibroblasts in primary culture. J Am Soc Nephrol 11(9):1600–1606

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Sommer M, Schaller R, Fünfstück R, Bohle A, Böhmer FD, Müller GA, Stein G (1999) Abnormal growth and clonal proliferation of fibroblasts in an animal model of unilateral ureteral obstruction. Nephron 82(1):39–50. https://doi.org/10.1159/000045366

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Clayton A, Steadman R, Williams JD (1997) Cells isolated from the human cortical interstitium resemble myofibroblasts and bind neutrophils in an ICAM-1–dependent manner. J Am Soc Nephrol 8(4):604–615. https://doi.org/10.1681/asn.V84604

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Winbanks CE, Darby IA, Kelynack KJ, Pouniotis D, Becker GJ, Hewitson TD (2011) Explanting is an ex vivo model of renal epithelial-mesenchymal transition. J Biomed Biotechnol 2011:212819

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Smith ER, Tan SJ, Holt SG, Hewitson TD (2017) FGF23 is synthesised locally by renal tubules and activates injury-primed fibroblasts. Sci Rep 7(1):3345

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Smith ER, Hewitson TD (2020) TGF-beta1 is a regulator of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in fibroblasts. Sci Rep 10(1):17914

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Grupp C, Müller GA (1999) Renal fibroblast culture. Exp Nephrol 7(5–6):377–385. https://doi.org/10.1159/000020635

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The work encompassed here was supported by a General Grant (Y21G-HEWT) to TH and ES from the Diabetes Australia Research Fund.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tim D. Hewitson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

About this protocol

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this protocol

Hewitson, T.D., Smith, E.R. (2023). Propagation, Culture, and Characterization of Renal Fibroblasts. In: Hewitson, T.D., Toussaint, N.D., Smith, E.R. (eds) Kidney Research. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2664. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3179-9_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3179-9_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-3178-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-3179-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics