High pressure conditions promote the proliferation of rat cultured mesangial cells in vitro.

Glomerular capillary pressure is involved in the development of chronic renal failure and has at least two effects on mesangial cells: transmembrane hydrostatic pressure and stretch. To clarify whether pure hydrostatic pressure itself affects the proliferation of cultured rat mesangial cells, we compared the cell number under atmospheric pressure condition with high pressure condition. At 24 and 48 h with 0.5% serum, cell number was significantly higher under high pressure condition than under atmospheric pressure condition. At 48 h, cell number under high pressure condition was increased in a pressure-dependent manner. Furthermore, flow cytometric assay indicated that pressure-load could promote DNA synthesis rate at S phase and enhance G1/S progression induced by low concentration of serum (0.5%). These results suggest that pure hydrostatic pressure itself can promote the proliferation of cultured rat mesangial cells by advancing cell cycle progression in vitro.