A. Rodriguez-barbero et al., Endoglin expression in human and rat mesangial cells and its upregulation by TGF-beta 1, BIOC BIOP R, 282(1), 2001, pp. 142-147
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Journal title
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
Endoglin is a component of the TGF-beta receptor complex present in the kid
ney at the human glomerular mesangium. Since the cellular origin of the glo
merular endoglin is unknown, in the present study we investigated the expre
ssion of endoglin in mesangial cells in culture, as well as their response
to TGF-beta1. Western and Northern blot analysis identified the expression
of endoglin protein and mRNA transcript in both human and rat mesangial cel
ls. Flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry analyses revealed that endoglin
is present on the cell membrane. Exogenous TGF-beta1 stimulated not only th
e expression of collagen alpha1 (I) I and TGF-beta1, but also that of endog
lin. These data provide the first evidence for the expression of endoglin i
n mesangial cells, as well as its upregulation by TGF-beta1, thus suggestin
g that endoglin may have a role in modulating the effects of TGF-beta1 on t
he glomerular mesangium. (C) 2001 Academic Press.