We investigated whether platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), or its receptor (PDGF-R), was upregulated in a rat model of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. A marked increase in both PDGF A- and B-chain mRNA could be demonstrated in glomerular RNA by Northern blot analysis 3 and 5 days after disease induction, corresponding to the time of mesangial cell proliferation. PDGF-R beta-subu...

Gentamicin-induced decreases in glomerular filtration rate have been associated with a marked decline in the glomerular capillary ultrafiltration coefficient which could be mediated by mesangial cell contraction or release of vasoactive hormones. We studied the effect of gentamicin on mesangial cells proliferation, contraction and Ca2+ mobilization. Moreover, we attempted to assess a possible r...

Fourteen cases of mesangial IgG glomerulonephritis characterized by exclusive or predominant mesangial IgG deposits are reported. The median age at onset was 19 yr (range, 13 to 47 yr). No patient exhibited evidence of systemic lupus erythematous or other systemic diseases. Proteinuria was present in all cases (median, 2.4 g/d; range, 1 to 13 g/d), microscopic hematuria in 12 cases, and macrosc...

Glomerular hypertension and glomerular hypertrophy act early and synergistically to promote glomerular injury in diabetes. We have previously shown that increased renal kinin production contributes to the glomerular hemodynamic abnormalities associated with diabetes. Glomerulosclerosis, characterized by mesangial cell proliferation and matrix expansion, is the final pathway leading to renal fai...

CASE A 52-year-old man presented with malaise and weakness associated with edema and nephrotic range proteinuria. He also had arthralgia and myalgia. Serum creatinine level was between 2 mg/dL and 2.5 mg/dL. Physical examination revealed purpura on the extremities and also on the abdominal skin. Laboratory studies revealed high serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. He also was anemic (haem...

Human mesangial cells grown in culture have been employed to investigate the interaction between exposure to ethanol and alkaline phosphodiestase I activity at the plasma membrane of intact cells. Chronic exposure of human mesangial cells to ethanol induced a dose-dependent rise in enzyme activity. Similar effect was observed after the treatment of mesangial cells with methanol. Short-term (1-3...

In the last two decades, the ability of mesangial cells to respond to various stimuli or injurious agents by altering their phenotype and function has become recognized. The plasticity of these mesangial cells has been linked to the morphological and functional alterations responsible for the pathologic findings. Many of the glomerular disorders target the mesangium as the primary and/or initia...

Accumulation of mesangial matrix is a pivotal event in the pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy. The molecular triggers for matrix production are still being defined. Here, suppression subtractive hybridization identified 15 genes differentially induced when primary human mesangial cells are exposed to high glucose (30 mM versus 5 mM) in vitro. These genes included (a) known regulators of me...

Mesangial cells are thought to play a central role in the renal complications of diabetes mellitus. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has been found to promote mesangial cell proliferation and regulate normal mesangial cell function in an autocrine and/or paracrine fashion. To gain further insight into the potential regulatory role IGF-I may play in mesangial cell function in diabetes, IGF-I...

αvβ8-Integrin is most abundantly expressed in the kidney, brain, and female reproductive organs, and its cognate ligand is latent transforming growth factor (LTGF)-β. Kidney αvβ8-integrin localizes to mesangial cells, and global β8-integrin gene (Itgb8) deletion results in embryonic lethality due to impaired placentation and cerebral hemorrhage. To circumvent the lethality and better define kid...