The influence of glucose concentration on angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy of proximal tubular cells in culture

Incubation of cultured murine proximal tubular cells in serum-free media containing 450 mg/dl of glucose resulted in cellular hypertrophy as defined by an increase in cell size, total protein content, and synthesis after 72 h. 10 nM angiotensin II further increased this hypertrophy, but failed to have any effect on cells grown in 100 mg/dl glucose. This enhancement by angiotensin II was blocked by treatment with 1 μM of the angiotensin-receptor antagonist DuP 753. Although cells incubated in either glucose media exhibited similar high-affinity angiotensin II-receptors, the receptor density was elevated only in cells grown in the presence of high glucose. Stimulation of cells in high glucose for 60 min with 10 nM angiotensin II also reduced significantly intracellular cAMP concentrations. This was not the case for proximal tubular cells cultured in normal glucose. Our results indicate that high glucose and angiotensin II have additive effects on the induction of hypertrophy in renal tubular cells.