Organ Model: Kidney

Introduction

This is a revised version of the previously released “Kidney-Chip Protocol // Co-Culture” (updated to Rev C as of 12-Dec-2023)

This protocol covers the general process for using the Co-Culture Proximal Tubule Kidney-Chip.

Introduction

Alkaline phosphatases (ALPs) are a family of cell surface glycoproteins with ALP isoenzymes expressed in kidney as well as in a variety of other organs such as liver, intestine, and bone. In the clinic, elevated levels of serum ALP are associated with disease or injury in serval organs. It can be applied as a marker of kidney injury and disease. This protocol uses the Proximal Tubule Kidney-Chip as a reference point, and these assay conditions could change with a different Organ-Chip.

Introduction

Accumulation of free radicals, coupled with an increase in oxidative stress, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several disease states and in the mechanism of action for toxicity of many compounds. This protocol can be used to measure these toxicity endpoints. The OxiSelect™ In Vitro ROS / RNS Assay Kit allows for the measurement of the total amount of free radicals in cell effluent by using a specific ROS / RNS fluorogenic probe. The fluorescence intensity is proportional to the total ROS / RNS levels within the sample.

This protocol uses the Proximal Tubule Kidney-Chip as a reference point. These methods and assay conditions could change with different Organ-Chips.

Introduction

Creatinine, a non-protein nitrogenous (NPN) waste product, is produced from the breakdown of creatine and phosphocreatine. Creatinine levels can be used as an indicator of renal function.

To measure creatinine secretion in the Proximal Tubule Kidney-Chip, the vascular channel (bottom channel) is perfused with medium containing 1mg / dL of human creatinine, while the secretion of creatinine in the epithelial channel (top channel) is measured from chip effluent that collects in outlet reservoirs of the Pod™ portable module.

This protocol uses the Proximal Tubule Kidney-Chip as a reference point. These methods and assay conditions could change with different Organ-Chips.

Introduction

TECO® αGST is an ELISA for the quantitative determination of alpha Glutathione S-Transferase (αGST). GSTs are enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of glutathione to electrophilic centers on a wide variety of substrates in order to make the compounds more water-soluble. The role of GSTs is to detoxify endogenous compounds such as those that enable the breakdown of xenobiotics. High intracellular concentrations of GSTs coupled and released into serum are indicators of hepatocyte injury and toxicity and can be used as biomarkers. They are also used as indicators of renal injury and nephrotoxicity.