Albumin and glycated albumin activate KIM-1 release in tubular epithelial cells through distinct kinetics and mechanisms

Objective Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) serves as a useful marker for monitoring tubular injury, and sustained KIM-1 expression may be implicated in chronic kidney fibrosis. In this study, we examine the kinetics and mechanisms of KIM-1 release in human proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) under the activation by major pathologic players in diabetic nephropathy, including human serum albumin (HSA), glycated albumin (AGE-BSA) and high glucose.