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Human glomerular mesangial IP15 cell line as a suitable model for in vitro cadmium cytotoxicity studies

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Abstract

Cadmium represents a major environmental pollutant that may induce severe damage, especially in the kidney where cadmium accumulates. While cadmium is known to severely impair renal tubular functions, glomerular structures are also potential targets. Owing to their contractile properties, glomerular mesangial cells play a major role in the control of glomerular hemodynamics and influence the ultrafiltration coefficient. Cell cultures provide alternative and fruitful models for study of in vitro toxicology. However, the use of primary human mesangial cell cultures is hampered by their limited survival span and their rapid dedifferentiation during passages. This study presents a human stable immortalized mesangial cell line, designated IP15. Cell characteristics were investigated by the detection of known mesangial markers, as well as their ability to contract in response to angiotensin II. IP15 cells were used to investigate cadmium uptake and morphological changes such as cell contraction and cytoskeleton protein expression. The IC50 cytotoxicity index was obtained with 3.55 μmol/L using neutral red assay for 24 h. After cadmium exposure (1 μmol/L, determined as nonlethal concentration), 0.38 μg Cd/mg protein was internalized by the cells as evaluated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES). Cadmium induced a significant cell surface reduction that correlated with smooth-muscle α-actin disorganization. Thus, the IP15 cell line is a suitable model for study of in vitro cadmium cytotoxicity in mesangial cells and allows sufficient material to be obtained for future studies of the intracellular effects of cadmium exposure.

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Abbreviations

PAGE:

polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

PCS:

planar cell surface

RT-PCR:

reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction

SMA:

smooth-muscle α-actin

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire, Université Victor Segalen – Bordeaux 2, 146 rue Léo-Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France

    B. L’Azou & J. Cambar

  2. Laboratoire de Biochimie, Université Victor Segalen – Bordeaux 2, 146 rue Léo-Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France

    I. Dubus

  3. Laboratoire d’Hydrologie – Environnement, Université Victor Segalen – Bordeaux 2, 146 rue Léo-Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France

    C. Ohayon-Courtès

  4. EA 3672 Santé-Travail-Environnement, Université Victor Segalen – Bordeaux 2, 146 rue Léo-Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France

    B. L’Azou, C. Ohayon-Courtès & J. Cambar

  5. Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire, EA 3672, UFR Pharmacie, Université Victor Segalen – Bordeaux 2, 146 rue Léo-Saignat, F33076, Bordeaux Cedex, France

    B. L’Azou

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  1. B. L’Azou
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  2. I. Dubus
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Correspondence to B. L’Azou.

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L’Azou, B., Dubus, I., Ohayon-Courtès, C. et al. Human glomerular mesangial IP15 cell line as a suitable model for in vitro cadmium cytotoxicity studies. Cell Biol Toxicol 23, 267–278 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-006-0888-0

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