Stretch-Induced Overproduction of Fibronectin in Mesangial Cells Is Mediated by the Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase

摘要

An excessive production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in glomerular mesangial cells is considered to be responsible for the development of mesangial expansion seen in diabetic nephropathy. Mechanical stretch due to glomerular hypertension has been pro- posed as one of the factors leading to an increase in the production of ECM proteins in mesangial cells, but the precise mechanism of stretch-induced overproduction of ECM proteins has not been elucidated. Herein, we pro- Vide the evidence that mitogen-activated protein Kinase (MAPK) may play a key role in the overproduc- Tion of fibronectin (FN) in mesangial cells exposed to Mechanical stretch.