Cultured human podocytes endocytose albumin.

<p><i>A</i>, Confocal image of cultured human podocytes placed at 4°C (inhibits endocytosis) or 37°C (promotes endocytosis) and treated with 1.5 mg/ml human FITC-albumin. Bright green vesicles seen in the podocytes at 37°C are FITC-albumin containing endosomes. <i>B,</i> Podocytes were treated with 1.5 mg/ml FITC-albumin at 4°C or 37°C for 2 hrs. There is a significant increase in the amount of albumin taken up by podocytes at 37°C compared to those at 4°C. * denotes P = 0.01 compared to albumin uptake at 4°C.