Mesangial cells and their matrix form the central stalk of the glomerulus and are part of a
functional unit interacting closely with endothelial cells and podocytes. Alterations in one cell
type can produce changes in the others. The cytokines generated by mesangial cells,
endothelial cells, and podocytes that tridirectionally and interactively influence cognate
receptors on receiver cells are not fully defined. The existence of cytokine cross-talk seems
very likely, given the observations that podocyte injury frequently results in mesangial cell …