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Polygonal epithelial cells in glomerular cell culture: Podocyte or parietal epithelial origin?
Author(s) -
Yaoita Eishin,
Yoshida Yutaka
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.10075
Subject(s) - podocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , epithelium , kidney glomerulus , pathology , glomerulonephritis , kidney , proteinuria , endocrinology , medicine , genetics
Podocytes are unique cells with regard to morphology, their inability to proliferate in situ, and their apparent essential function for glomerular filtration and permselectivity. Upon transfer into culture conditions, polygonal epithelial cells grow out from isolated glomeruli and these cells have been postulated to represent dedifferentiated podocytes, even though they are negative for podocyte‐specific markers and undergo cell division. However, it is controversial whether they originate from podocytes or parietal epithelial cells (PECs) of Bowman's capsule, because isolated glomeruli contain more or less Bowman's capsule. In this review, we shall summarize recent progress in the identification of the origin of the polygonal cells and the characterization of podocytes in culture. Microsc. Res. Tech. 57:212–216, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.