The glomerular mesangial cell may have several important beneficial functions in the normal glomerulus. These include the production of growth factors to allow normal cell turnover, the provision of structural support for the capillaries via the production of mesangial matrix, and the modulation of glomerular hemodynamics via their contractile properties. However, in various types of glomerular...

DNA binding protein A (DbpA) is a member of the human cold shock domain-containing protein superfamily, with known functions in cell proliferation, differentiation, and stress responses. DbpA mediates tight junction-associated activities in tubular epithelial cells, but the function of DbpA in mesangial cells is unknown. Here, we found DbpA protein expression restricted to vascular smooth muscl...

Alpha(v)beta8 integrin expression is restricted primarily to kidney, brain, and placenta. Targeted alpha(v) or beta8 deletion is embryonic lethal due to defective placenta and brain angiogenesis, precluding investigation of kidney alpha(v)beta8 function. We find that kidney beta8 is localized to glomerular mesangial cells, and expression is decreased in mouse models of glomerulosclerosis, sugge...

Lipotoxicity-induced mesangial cell apoptosis is implicated in the exacerbation of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) have been known to regulate a variety of biological functions. Recently, it was reported that PRMT1 expression is increased in proximal tubule cells under diabetic conditions. However, their roles in mesangial cells remain unexplored. Thus, we...

Background: To date no specific treatment is established in mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis in man. Specific stimulation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), an enzyme catalyzing the synthesis of cyclic GMP from GTP, can be achieved by the novel pyrazolopyridine derivative Bay 41-2272. In this study, we investigated the effects of sGC stimulation in experimental mesangial proliferative...

Affinity-purified rabbit antibodies specific for two large noncollagenous gycoproteins--laminin and fibronectin--were used to study the distribution of these proteins in normal murine kidneys. Immunofluorescence staining of conventional frozen sections demonstrates fibronectin within mesangial areas of the glomerulus. Laminin is also found in mesangial areas. However, it also appears to be dist...

The endothelium-derived relaxing factor nitric oxide (EDRF/NO) is a labile, endogenous vasodilator that is important in the control of systemic vascular tone. This review focuses on the effects of EDRF/NO on glomerular mesangial cells in vitro and on the role of EDRF/NO in mesangial and glomerular physiology and pathophysiology in vivo. It was concluded that EDRF/NO can stimulate increases in c...

Proliferation and migration are important biological responses of mesangial cells to injury. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a prime candidate to mediate these responses in glomerular disease. PDGF and its receptor (PDGFR) are upregulated in the mesangium during glomerular injury. We have recently shown that PDGF activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3-kinase) in cultured mesangi...

Mesangial cells maintain normal glomerular function by mediating ECM remodeling and immune complex disposal. We have recently identified megsin, a novel member of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) superfamily predominantly expressed in the mesangium. While our previous studies suggested a role for megsin in the pathogenesis of human glomerular diseases, its exact biological significance re...

Aldosterone and angiotensin II (ANG II) contribute to the development and progression of renal damage. Here we investigated the effects of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) on renal cell proliferation evoked by aldosterone and ANG II with mouse mesangial cells, which express mineralocorticoid receptors (MR), ANG II type 1 receptors, and BMP signaling molecules. Aldosterone and ANG II stimulate...