Chemical inducers of differentiation in a long-term renal cell line.

The long-term renal epithelial cell line LLC-PK1 expresses at confluence several differentiated characteristics of renal proximal tubule including Na/glucose cotransport and several brush border membrane hydrolases. The differentiation-inducing chemical hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) triggers a dramatic induction of Na+/glucose symport, trehalase and maltase, expressed as an increase in the number of cells in the culture that express the differentiated phenotype. Characteristics of the induction response are reviewed in terms of proposed mechanisms of inducer action. New evidence suggests that in addition to elevation of intracellular Na levels mediated by partial inhibition of the sodium pump, HMBA treatment also alters polyamine levels via effects on ornithine decarboxylase. These responses may be mediated by HMBA effects on protein kinase C activity. The possible role of polyamine fluctuations and DNA demethylation in mediating HMBA effects on differentiated gene expression is currently being investigated.