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| Intraglomerular mesangial cell | |
|---|---|
 Renal corpuscle showing the intraglomerular mesangial cells | |
| Anatomical terminology |
Intraglomerular mesangial cells aremesangial cells located among theglomerularcapillaries within arenal corpuscle of akidney.
Mesangial cells aremacrophages[1] and resemblepericytes.[2] They typically cover 30% of glomerular capillaries. They are bothvimentin anddesmin positive.
There are five known functions of intraglomerular mesangial cells: structural support of glomerular capillaries, regulation of theglomerular filtration rate, mesangial matrix formation,phagocytosis, and monitoring of capillary lumen glucose concentration[citation needed].
Intraglomerular mesangial cells have contractile activity. The initiation of contraction of mesangial cells is similar to that of smooth muscle. Contraction of mesangial cells is coupled with contraction of the basement membrane of the endothelium of glomerular capillaries. This causes a decrease in surface area of the basement membrane and thus a decreased glomerular filtration rate.
Intraglomerular mesangial cells synthesize and secrete theextracellular matrix. It containsfibronectin,type IV collagen,perlecan, andlaminin.
Intraglomerular mesangial cellsphagocytize glomerularbasal lamina components andimmunoglobulins. They are an unusual example of phagocytic cells derived fromsmooth muscle and notmonocytes. Intraglomerular mesangial cells aidneutrophils in removing other mesangial cells undergoingapoptosis, and other debris.
Intraglomerular mesangial cells monitor capillary lumen glucose concentration via processes sent into the capillary lumen.