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The glomerular mesangium: studies of its developmental origin and markers in vivo and in vitro
Author(s) -
HÖLthofer HARRY,
Sainio KIRSI,
Miettinen AARO
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1995.tb01119.x
Subject(s) - mesangium , mesangial cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , glomerular mesangium , renal glomerulus , glomerulus , in vivo , desmin , pathology , immunology , kidney , glomerulonephritis , immunohistochemistry , endocrinology , vimentin , medicine , biochemistry , genetics
Cultured mesangial cells are widely used to explore their role in kidney glomerular functions, but methods to reliably identify these cells in vivo and in vitro are lacking. Furthermore, the proposed relationship of mesangial cells to e.g. fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells has not been systematically studied. Here we wanted to search for markers of practical use also in identifying cultured mesangial cells, and to apply these markers in a study of the origin of glomerular mesangium. No epitopes specific for only mesangial cells could be identified, and no evidence of their true relationship with neural or lymphocytic lineages could be found. Findings with the variety of markers used suggest that mesangial cells may be indistinguishable from smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. A panel of antibodies, including those against Thy 1.1, smooth muscle actin, desmin, cellular fibronectin and pi integrin al and a5 chains, and Wistaria floribunda (WFA) and Ricinus communis (RCA I) lectins, were found useful for mesangial cell detection in vivo and in vitro. The origin of glomerular mesangial cells could not be conclusively determined, although the results indirectly suggest that mesangial cells together with endothelial cells migrate to the glomerulus from the outside.