Mesangial cell

Mesangial cell
Details
LocationMesangium of the glomeruli of kidneys
Identifiers
MeSHD050527
FMA70972
Anatomical terms of microanatomy

Mesangial cells are specialised cells in the kidney that make up the mesangium of the glomerulus. Together with the mesangial matrix, they form the vascular pole of the renal corpuscle.[1] The mesangial cell population accounts for approximately 30-40% of the total cells in the glomerulus.[2] Mesangial cells can be categorized as either extraglomerular mesangial cells or intraglomerular mesangial cells, based on their relative location to the glomerulus. The extraglomerular mesangial cells are found between the afferent and efferent arterioles towards the vascular pole of the glomerulus.[3] The extraglomerular mesangial cells are adjacent to the intraglomerular mesangial cells that are located inside the glomerulus and in between the capillaries.[4] The primary function of mesangial cells is to remove trapped residues and aggregated protein from the basement membrane thus keeping the filter free of debris. The contractile properties of mesangial cells have been shown to be insignificant in changing the filtration pressure of the glomerulus. [citation needed]

  1. ^ Schlondorff, D; Banas, B (2009). "The Mesangial Cell Revisited: No Cell Is an Island". Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 20 (6): 1179–1187. doi:10.1681/ASN.2008050549. PMID 19470685.
  2. ^ Scindia, Y; Deshmukh, U; Bagavant, H (2010). "Mesangial pathology in glomerular disease: targets for therapeutic intervention". Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. 62 (14): 1337–1343. doi:10.1016/j.addr.2010.08.011. PMC 2992591. PMID 20828589.
  3. ^ Barajas, L (1997). "Cell-specific protein and gene expression in the juxtaglomerular apparatus". Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 24 (7): 520–526. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1681.1997.tb01239.x. PMID 9248671. S2CID 41023701.
  4. ^ Goligorsky, M; Iijima, K; Krivenko, Y; Tsukahara, H; Hu, Y; Moore, L (1997). "Role of mesangial cells in macula densa to afferent arteriole information transfer". Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 24 (7): 527–531. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1681.1997.tb01240.x. PMID 9248672. S2CID 24753189.