OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of autophagy in oxalate-induced toxicity of human proximal renal tubular epithelial cell (HK-2). METHODS: HK-2 cells were exposed to oxalate (1 mmol/L) for 2 h and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) was used to inhibit autophagy. Then Western blotting was used to measure the expression of autophagy-related protein LC3II. Cell viability and cell apoptosis were measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry assay, respectively. RESULTS: Cytoplasmic vacuolization was observed in HK-2 cells after treating with oxalate for 2 h. However, 3-MA showed no effects on the formation of cytoplasmic vacuolization regardless of the dose at 1 or 5 mmol/L. The expression of LC3II protein was significantly increased in the HK-2 cells in the presence of oxalate (0.62±0.03 vs 0.35±0.02, CONCLUSIONS Autophagy of HK-2 cells is enhanced by oxalate at the concentration of 1 mmol/L. Inhibition of 3-MA-induced autophagy protects HK-2 cells from the oxalate-induced cytotoxicity.
Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Oxalates/toxicity*