The cells form colonies in soft agar, and are positive for SV40 large T antigen.

The cells display prominent cytoskeletal staining for actin, and have abundant parallel fibrils in the cytoplasm.xa0

They are reported to contract in the presence of 1 X 10^-6 M angiotensin II. The cells form colonies in soft agar, and are positive for SV40 large T antigen.

1. Remove and discard culture medium.
2. Briefly rinse the cell layer with 0.25% (w/v) Trypsin- 0.53 mM EDTA solution to remove all traces of serum that contains trypsin inhibitor.
3. Add 2.0 to 3.0 mL of Trypsin-EDTA solution to flask and observe cells under an inverted microscope until cell layer is dispersed (usually within 5 to 15 minutes).
   Note: To avoid clumping do not agitate the cells by hitting or shaking the flask while waiting for the cells to detach. Cells that are difficult to detach may be placed at 37°C to facilitate dispersal.
4. Add 6.0 to 8.0 mL of complete growth medium and aspirate cells by gently pipetting.
5. Add appropriate aliquots of the cell suspension to new culture vessels.
6. Incubate cultures at 37°C.

MacKay K, et al. Glomerular epithelial, mesangial, and endothelial cell lines from transgenic mice. Kidney Int. 33: 677-684, 1988. PubMed: 2835539

Robey RB, et al. Regulation of mesangial cell hexokinase activity by PKC and the classic MAPK pathway. Am. J. Physiol. 277: F742-F749, 1999. PubMed: 10564237

Robey RB, et al. Thrombin is a novel regulator of hexokinase activity in mesangial cells. Kidney Int. 57: 2308-2318, 2000. PubMed: 10844601

Robey RB, et al. Regulation of mesangial cell hexokinase activity and expression by heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor: epidermal growth factors and phorbol esters increase glucose metabolism via a common mechanism involving classic mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation and induction of hexokinase II expression. J. Biol. Chem. 277: 14370-14378, 2002. PubMed: 11782486

Maile S, et al. The morphology of mesangial cells cultured at high density and in collagen gels. Histol. Histopathol. 15: 403-414, 2000. PubMed: 10809358

Coy PE, et al. LPA is a novel lipid regulator of mesangial cell hexokinase activity and HKII isoform expression. Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol. 283: F271-F279, 2002. PubMed: 12110510

This line was established from the kidney of a mouse transgenic for the SV40 early region.

Taneja N, et al. Proinflammatory interleukin-1 cytokines increase mesangial cell hexokinase activity and hexokinase II isoform abundance. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 287: C548-C557, 2004. PubMed: 15070811