Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.4.24.3 (collagenase)
 18,340 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Mesangial cells serve many functions in the glomerulus, including regulation of glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient, matrix production, and eicosanoid generation. The glomerulus is a vascular bed, and the mesangial cell is continually exposed to rhythmic alterations in intraglomerular pressure. Since increased intraglomerular pressure has been implicated as a potential causative agent in the ultimate development of nephrosclerosis, we sought to determine the effect of continuous stretch-relaxation upon parameters of mesangial cell growth and function. Early passage (2-4) cultured rat mesangial cells were plated onto either rigid-bottom or flexible-bottom culture plates coated with type I collagen. After cell attachment, the cells on flexible supports were exposed to continuous stretch-relaxation for 72 to 96 hours at a rate of 100 cycles/minutes at an applied pressure of 7 to 8 KPa (53 to 61 mm Hg). Cellular morphology was altered by continuous stretch-relaxation, with the majority of mesangial cells presenting stellate or straplike morphology. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled phalloidin staining indicated an increase in density of actin filaments running the long axis of the cell. Stretch-relaxation resulted in an approximately 50% increase in cell number. Prostaglandin production, assessed as irPGE2 production, was increased by stretching in mesangial cells from 28 +/- 1 to 49 +/- 4 pg/10(6) cells (N = 12; p less than 0.005). Mechanical stretch/relaxation increased the percentage of protein representing collagenous proteins from 47 +/- 6% to 70 +/- 4%, as assessed by collagenase susceptibility (p less than 0.025). Analysis of pepsin-resistant proteins synthesized indicated that stretch/relaxation resulted in increases in the relative amounts of types I and III collagens produced/cell. Additionally, stretch/relaxation selectively increased the relative amount of type I-homotrimers produced. Thus, when mesangial cells are exposed to cyclic stretch/relaxation, they exhibit significant alterations in morphology, growth, prostaglandin and collagen production.
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PMID:Continuous stretch-relaxation in culture alters rat mesangial cell morphology, growth characteristics, and metabolic activity. 157 48

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a dimeric glycoprotein that exerts a proliferative effect specifically on endothelial cells. VEGF can increase vascular permeability and collagenase activity, is chemotactic for monocytes, and may dilate blood vessels. It can be induced by phorbol ester and cAMP in both mesenchymal and epithelial cells. In vitro cell culture experiments suggest that VEGF is upregulated by oxygen deprivation. In this study we tested whether in vivo acute and/or chronic reduction of renal blood flow by vascular obstruction would result in increased expression of VEGF mRNA and protein. Three normal kidneys, five human kidneys with narrowing of preglomerular vessels by vascular rejection or by vasculitis, and eight kidneys with nephrosclerosis and/or diabetic nephropathy were examined. In situ hybridization with 35S-labelled riboprobes showed a pronounced expression of VEGF mRNA in acutely hypoxic proximal and distal tubules of both the cortex and medulla; VEGF protein was demonstrated in the epithelia of these tubules by immunohistochemistry. In kidneys with chronically reduced blood flow, the majority of atrophic tubules were negative for VEGF mRNA and protein, although interstitial cells expressed VEGF mRNA. In arcuate arteries showing intimal and adventitial fibrosis, some medial smooth muscle cells were positive for VEGF mRNA. In glomeruli with segmental sclerosis, viable podocytes showed a prominent signal for VEGF mRNA. Mesangial cells did not express VEGF in the cases studied. It is possible that hypoxia itself led to the upregulation of VEGF in tubular epithelia and vascular smooth muscle cells. The vasodilatory and permeability-promoting effects of the endothelial growth factor produced by damaged tubular epithelia may constitute a mechanism to alleviate a decrease in blood flow and substrate availability and to re-establish vascular integrity.
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PMID:Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in renal vascular disease and renal allografts. 855 88