Integrins are heterodimeric receptors that regulate cell adhesion, migration, and apoptosis. Integrin αvβ8 is most abundantly expressed in kidney and brain, and its major ligand is latent transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Kidney αvβ8 localizes to mesangial cells, which appose glomerular endothelial cells and maintain glomerular capillary structure by mechanical and poorly understood paracri...

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...

Viral RNA or bacterial products can activate glomerular mesangial cells via a subset of Toll-like receptors (Tlr). Because Tlr2-deficient mice were recently found to have attenuated nephrotoxic serum nephritis (NSN), we hypothesized that endogenous Tlr agonists can activate glomerular mesangial cells. Primary mesangial cells from C57BL/6 mice expressed Tlr1-6 and Tlr11 mRNA at considerable leve...

PURPOSE Mesangial cells play an important role in regulating glomerular filtration by altering their cellular tone. We report the presence of a sodium glucose cotransporter (SGLT) in rat mesangial cells. This study in rat mesangial cells aimed to evaluate the expression and role of SGLT2. METHODS The SGLT2 expression in rat mesangial cells was assessed by Western blotting and reverse transcri...

High-glucose-induced activation of mesangial cell protein kinase C (PKC) contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Excess glucose metabolism through the polyol pathway leads to de novo synthesis of both diacylglyerol (DAG) and phosphatidic acid, which may account for increased mesangial cell PKC-alpha, -beta, -delta, -epsilon, and -zeta activation/translocation obse...

The present study investigated the effect of rutin on high glucose-induced actin, α2, smooth muscle, aorta (ACTA2) and p38 protein expression in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Human mesangial cells were divided into a control group, high glucose-induced mesangial cell group, high glucose + captopril group, and high glucose + rutin group (low, middle and high doses of rutin). Cell viability, adenosi...

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...

BACKGROUND Mesangial activation occurs in many forms of renal disease that progress to renal failure. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are important mediators involved in the intracellular network of interacting proteins that transduce extracellular stimuli to intracellular responses. The extracellular signal-regulated kinases 5 (Erk5) MAPK pathway has been involved in regulating sever...

High ambient glucose activates intracellular signaling pathways to induce the expression of extracellular matrix and cytokines such as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Cell responses to CTGF in already glucose-stressed cells may act to transform the mesangial cell phenotype leading to the development of glomerulosclerosis. We analyzed cell signaling downstream of CTGF in high glucose-str...

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury, known as a major trigger for organ fibrosis and independent predictor of chronic kidney disease, is characterized by mesangial cell proliferation, inflammation and unbalance between biosynthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix. Therapeutic approaches targeting the inhibition of mesangial cell proliferation and matrix expansion may represent a promising op...