Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogen for cells of mesenchymal origin and is released and/or synthesized by platelets, macrophages, endothelial cells, and rat mesangial cells. In the present investigation, we found that human glomerular mesangial cells in culture release a PDGF-like protein which competes for 125I-PDGF binding to human foreskin fibroblasts and is mitogenic for these fibroblasts. The competing and to a lesser extent the mitogenic activities present in the conditioned medium are partially recognized by an anti-PDGF antibody. Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA from human mesangial cells demonstrates the expression of both PDGF A- and B-chain mRNAs. PDGF also binds to mesangial cells in a specific manner and stimulates DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. These data suggest that a PDGF-like protein secreted by mesangial cells or released from platelets, monocytes, or endothelial cells during glomerular inflammation may function as an autocrine or a paracrine growth factor for these cells. The biological role of PDGF in mediating proliferative and other inflammatory events in the glomerulus remains to be identified.
Shultz et al. (Sat,) studied this question.