Proteinuria may contribute to progressive renal damage by inducing tubulointerstitial
inflammation, fibrosis, and tubular cell injury and death, but the mechanisms underlying
these pathologic changes remain largely unknown. Here, in a rat kidney proximal tubular
cell line (RPTC), albumin induced apoptosis in a time-and dose-dependent manner.
Caspase activation accompanied albumin-induced apoptosis, and general caspase
inhibitors could suppress this activation. In addition, Bcl-2 transfection inhibited apoptosis …