Graded ATP depletion can cause necrosis or apoptosis of cultured mouse proximal tubular cells

Primary cultures of proximal tubular cells from mice were used in the investigation of the effects of adenosine triphosphatase (ATP) depletion. Depleting ATP to at most 15% of normal levels induces cell death by necrosis while depletion to levels between 25% and 70% of normal induced cell death by apoptosis. The rate of cell demise is proportional to the degree of ATP depletion.