Phenotypic changes in culture hamper the identification and characterization of cultured podocytes and parietal epithelial cells of the Bowman’s capsule (PECs). We have recently established culture conditions that restore podocytes to their differentiated phenotypes. We compared podocytes and PECs cultured under the same conditions to determine the unique characteristics of the two cell types. Performing this comparison under the same conditions accentuated these differences. Podocytes behaved like non-epithelial cells by extending cell processes even at confluence. By contrast, PECs behaved like typical epithelial cells by maintaining a polygonal appearance. Other differences were identified using immunostaining and RT-PCR; podocytes expressed high levels of podocyte-specific markers while PECs expressed high levels of PEC-specific markers. However, while podocytes expressed low levels of PEC markers, PECs expressed low levels of podocyte markers. Therefore, the identification of podocytes and PECs in culture requires the evaluation of respective cell markers and the expression of markers for other cell types.

中文翻译：

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鲍曼囊的培养足细胞和壁上皮细胞之间的明显差异

培养中的表型变化阻碍了培养的足细胞和弓形囊 (PEC) 的顶叶上皮细胞的鉴定和表征。我们最近建立了将足细胞恢复到其分化表型的培养条件。我们比较了在相同条件下培养的足细胞和 PEC，以确定两种细胞类型的独特特征。在相同条件下进行这种比较会加剧这些差异。足细胞的行为与非上皮细胞相似，即使在汇合时也能延长细胞过程。相比之下，PEC 通过保持多边形外观而表现得像典型的上皮细胞。使用免疫染色和 RT-PCR 确定了其他差异；足细胞表达高水平的足细胞特异性标志物，而 PEC 表达高水平的 PEC 特异性标志物。然而，虽然足细胞表达低水平的 PEC 标志物，但 PEC 表达低水平的足细胞标志物。因此，在培养中识别足细胞和 PEC 需要评估各自的细胞标志物和其他细胞类型的标志物的表达。