part of part of kidney loop of Henle ascending limb epithelial cell kidney loop of Henle thick ascending limb epithelial cell kidney loop of Henle cortical thick ascending limb epithelial cell The kidney Loop of Henle cortical thick ascending limb epithelial cell (often abbreviated as TAL cell), contributes significantly towards the kidney's fundamental role in maintaining homeostasis, frequently pertaining to volume status and electrolyte balance in the body. This cell type is an integral part of the nephron, the central, functional unit of the kidney. Specifically, these cells line the thick ascending limb (TAL) in the Loop of Henle, a section crucial for the reabsorption of electrolytes in the nephron and part of the multi-step process of urine formation. The TAL cells play a fundamental role in the reabsorption of sodium, chloride, and potassium from the filtrate that passes through the Loop of Henle. It utilizes a Na-K-2Cl symporter, a type of cotransporter, on its apical (urine-facing) surface. This protein facilitates the uptake of these ions from the filtrate against their concentration gradient, into the cell interior. Moreover, the basolateral side, which comes in contact with the interstitial fluid, contains a Na+/K+ ATPase, thereby actively transporting sodium out of the cell to maintain the concentration gradient and facilitating the renal countercurrent mechanism. Additionally, these cells are impermeable to water, hence, the reabsorption of electrolytes without an accompanying water reabsorption contributes to the hyperosmotic medullary interstitium, a unique environment in the kidneys that assist in the production of concentrated urine. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) KUPO:0001052 https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_1001109 An epithelial cell that is part of some loop of Henle thick ascending limb segment located in the renal cortex. Homo sapiens distal straight tubule postmacula segment