Important roles of mechanical force and hydraulic pressure in kidney function

Tubule epithelial cells (TECs) regulate the reabsorption of water and electrolytes; however, the role of mechanical force in driving fluid transport by TECs is unclear. Using a microfluidic

platform to mimic fluid transport, Choudhury and colleagues now show that TECs act as mechanobiological fluid pumps, actively generating hydraulic pressure gradients across the epithelium.

The trans-epithelial fluidic flux, which occurs in an apical-to-basal direction in normal TECs, declines with increasing hydraulic pressure until a stall pressure is reached. Moreover, the

researchers show that TECs change their gene expression profiles and spatial arrangements of ion exchangers in response to changes in pressure.

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