Roles of PDGF receptor-beta in the structure and function of postnatal kidney glomerulus.

Background: Mesangial cell functions are critically regulated by platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-β signals. In contrast to the well-established role of PDGFR-β in the development of kidney glomerulus, its role in adult kidney glomerulus remains controversial.

Methods: We deleted the PDGFR-β gene postnatally using the Cre-loxP system and analysed the long-term effects of PDGFR-β inhibition on glomerular changes associated with ageing and subtotal nephrectomy.

Effects of leukocytosis and macrophage activation on anti-Thy 1.1 glomerulonephritis in the rat.

Objective: In anti-Thy 1.1 proliferative glomerulonephritis (GN), glomerular infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) reaches a peak level after 1 h and that of macrophages does so 24 h after induction. However, the roles of PMNs and macrophages in the pathogenesis of anti-Thy 1.