[Interrelationship between endothelin and glomerular mesangial cells].

The interrelationship between endothelin (ET), endothelin receptors (ET-R) and glomerular mesangial cells (MC) was investigated by MC culture, RT-PCR, Northern blot hybridization, DNA cytometry and immunohistochemistry methods. The results showed that in MC, there existed the expression of ET mRNA and also the expression of 2 subsets ETA mRNA and ETB mRNA. ET mRNA peptide is synthesized in MC. ET mRNA induced significant MC contraction and stimulated MC division and proliferation. The results suggest that MC are special cells with the capacity of producing ET and are also the target cells for ET. It is possible that ET influence glomerular filtration area and rate by inducing MC contraction and cause also MC proliferation and glomerular sclerosis.