Regardless of the source of injury, an imbalance in the control of mesangia
l cell proliferation appears to play a direct role in the degree of progres
sive renal injury and glomerulosclerosis. Some of the regulatory mechanisms
include specific soluble or non-soluble extracellular factors and a comple
x array of receptor-mediated signals that control the progression of the ce
ll cycle or cell death. Understanding these regulatory processes could lead
to novel therapeutic strategies to alleviate or arrest proliferative glome
rular disease.