Background: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B regulates mesangial cell and vessel development during embryogenesis, and contributes to the pathogenesis of adult renal and vascular diseases. Endothelial cell PDGF-B exerts paracrine effects on mesangial cells, but its regulation is not well defined. We examined the impact of hypoxia on PDGF-B-mediated interactions between glomerular endothelial and mesangial cells, a condition of potential relevance in developing, and diseased adult, kidneys.
Methods: Glomerular endothelial or mesangial cells were subjected to hypoxia and responses compared to normoxic cells. Endothelial PDGF-B was studied by Northern and Western analysis. Mesangial proliferative responses to PDGF-B were assessed by (3)H-thymidine incorporation, and migration by a modified Boyden chamber assay. Hypoxia-induced changes in receptor specific binding capacity were studied by saturation binding assays.
Results: Hypoxia stimulated increases in endothelial PDGF-B mRNA and protein. In normoxic mesangial cells, PDGF-B stimulated dose-dependent proliferation, but the proliferative response of hypoxic cells was two to three times greater. Exogenous PDGF-B also caused prompter migration in hypoxic mesangial cells. Mesangial cells were treated with endothelial cell-conditioned medium. More cells migrated when hypoxic cells were stimulated with hypoxic conditioned medium, than when normoxic cells were stimulated with normoxic conditioned medium. Preincubating conditioned medium with PDGF-B neutralizing antibody greatly decreased the chemoattractant activity. Binding studies demonstrated increased specific binding capacity in hypoxic cells.
Conclusion: Hypoxia enhances PDGF-B paracrine interactions between glomerular endothelial and mesangial cells. These hypoxia-regulated interactions may be important during glomerulogenesis in fetal life and during the pathogenesis of adult glomerular disease.