Gelatinase A is a glomerular mesangial cell growth and differentiation factor.

The members of the matrix metalloproteinase gene family play critical roles in numerous physiologic events, including cellular migration, tissue remodeling in wound healing and development, as well as in the evolution of the inflammatory process. The 72 kDa gelatinase A (formerly denoted 72 kDa Type IV collagenase) is centrally involved in the inflammatory and sclerotic events common to most forms of chronic glomerular disease. In this article recent studies are summarized which demonstrate that this particular enzyme can directly affect the proliferative and differentiation properties of the intrinsic glomerular mesangial cell, both in vitro and in vivo.