Figure 7.

Analysis of primary mesangial cells. Mesangial cells are elongated, arranged in multiple layers, and stained positively for smooth muscle α-actin (A), but not synaptopodin (B) or PECAM (C). D: Proliferation was assessed by immunofluorescence assay for BrdU-positive cells as a percentage of the total number of cells, averaged from five separate fields of view. Mesangial cells from Lama1^CKO mice exhibit significantly increased proliferation compared with control cells. This increase is inhibited by exogenous LAMA1-containing LM-111, but not by LAMA2- or LAMA5-containing isoforms. E: Mesangial cell proliferation determined in cells transfected with vector alone or with a LAMA1 expression vector. Control (dark gray bars) and Lama1^CKO (light gray bars) cells were cultured on slide chambers for 24 hours and transfected for 48 hours before proliferation analysis. Restoration of LAMA1 expression by Lama1^CKO cells suppresses their proliferation. Data represent means ± SEM. ^∗P < 0.05, ^∗∗P < 0.01 versus control; ^†P < 0.05 versus untransfected cells; ^‡‡P < 0.01 versus control vector transfected cells.