Quick Facts
The mesangial matrix helps support podocytes where the basement membrane is absent (Ross and Pawlina, 2006).
Related parts of the anatomy
Structure and/or Key Feature(s)
Within the renal corpuscle, the glomerular basement membrane associated with several capillaries encloses a space containing a population of cells called mesangial cells, which form the mesangium. The mesangium is more prominent at the vascular pole.
Mesangial cells are also located outside the renal corpuscle but are called extraglomerular mesangial (or lacis) cells and will form part of the juxtaglomerular apparatus (Ross and Pawlina, 2006).
Function
The primary function of mesangial cells is to remove trapped residue, etc. from the glomerular basement membrane and filtration slit diaphragm and so maintain these structures free of debris. Whilst they are phagocytic cells they are not derived from precursor cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system (monocytes). Mesangial cells also structurally support podocytes where the basement membrane is absent and synthesize and secrete molecules which have a role in responses to injury to the glomerulus. Mesangial cells also have contractile properties (Ross and Pawlina, 2006).
References
Ross, M. H. and Pawlina, W. (2006) Histology: A text and atlas. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
