BACKGROUND Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B regulates mesangial cell and vessel development during embryogenesis, and contributes to the pathogenesis of adult renal and vascular diseases. Endothelial cell PDGF-B exerts paracrine effects on mesangial cells, but its regulation is not well defined. We examined the impact of hypoxia on PDGF-B-mediated interactions between glomerular endothel...

Acute renal failure is one of the hallmarks of the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Infection with a verocytotoxin (VT)- or Shiga-like toxin (SLT)-producing Escherichia coli has been strongly implicated in the etiology of the epidemic form of HUS. The functional receptor for these closely related toxins appears to be a glycosphingolipid, globotriaosylceramide (Gb3). Endothelial damage in the gl...

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...

background: primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (fsgs) is defined by the presence of proteinuria, often in nephrotic range and pathologically by segmental scars (ss). the aim of this study is to identify the possible predictors of complete remission or progression to chronic kidney disease in iranian adults with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. methods: in this historical coho...

Post-mitotic cultures of human mesangial cells were maintained in media containing 4-30 mM D-glucose for up to 28 days. Changes in mRNA and protein levels for specific macromolecules occurred between 7 and 14 days after initiating hyperglycaemic conditions. Slot blot analysis showed 2-3-fold increases in mRNAs for collagen type I, fibronectin, versican and perlecan, whereas mRNA for decorin was...

In an attempt to clarify the mechanisms by which angiotensin II (All) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) regulate mesangial cell function, we examined the membrane potential change of mesangial cells and found that cells contracted and membrane potential depolarized in response to All and AVP. The depolarization was associated with decreased input resistance. Ca ionophore A23187 caused similar mesa...

In an attempt to clarify the mechanisms by which angiotensin II (AII) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) regulate mesangial cell function, we examined the membrane potential change of mesangial cells and found that cells contracted and membrane potential depolarized in response to AII and AVP. The depolarization was associated with decreased input resistance. Ca ionophore A23187 caused similar mesa...

Recent evidence suggests that dopamine may alter kidney function by actions not only in the renal vasculature but also at the glomerular-mesangial level. We studied this phenomenon by examining the ability of dopamine to antagonize the contractile properties of angiotensin II in isolated rat glomeruli and cultured mesangial cells. In isolated rat glomeruli angiotensin II caused a decrease in th...

Hyperglycemia causes glomerular mesangial cell proliferation and increases matrix synthesis, contributing to early diabetic glomerulopathy. Immunohistochemical and functional correlations of renal cyclooxygenase-2 in experimental diabetes have been identified. However, the role of cyclooxygenase-2 in early diabetes-induced mesangial cell proliferation remains unknown. The authors tested the hyp...