title: Activation of glomerular mesangial cells by the terminal membrane attack complex of complement.
abstract: Treatment of cultured renal glomerular mesangial cells (MC) with nonlytic concentrations of the purified components (C5b-9) of the terminal membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement induced significant functional alterations characteristic of cellular activation. C5b-9-treated MC released large quantities of primarily vasodilatory prostaglandins. In addition, the secretion of an MC-derived auto-growth factor (MC interleukin 1) was greatly enhanced. Examination of the action of C5b-9 on MC phospholipid metabolism indicated that complement induced the activation of phospholipases, leading to quantitative changes in the fatty acid profile of MC membrane phospholipids. These findings demonstrate that cultured MC are highly responsive to nonlytic concentrations of the C5b-9 complex, and suggest that the mesangial deposition of the MAC in many forms of glomerular disease, with resultant cellular activation, may play a major role in the hemodynamic and cellular proliferative events characteristic of these disorders.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000378:metabolism*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D011453:Prostaglandins; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D010740:Phospholipases