Mesangial cells are stromal cells that are important for kidney glomerular homeostasis and the glomerular response to injury. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that mesenchymal stromal cells, such as stromal fibroblasts, pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells, not only specify the architecture of tissues but also regulate developmental processes, vascularization and cell fate specification. In addition, through crosstalk with neighbouring cells and indirectly through the remodelling of the matrix, stromal cells can regulate a variety of processes such as immunity, inflammation, regeneration and in the context of maladaptive responses — fibrosis. Insights into the molecular phenotype of kidney mesangial cells suggest that they are a specialized stromal cell of the glomerulus. Here, we review our current understanding of mesenchymal stromal cells and discuss how it informs the function of mesangial cells and their role in disease. These new insights could lead to a better understanding of kidney disease pathogenesis and the development of new therapies for chronic kidney disease.

系膜细胞是基质细胞，对肾小球稳态和肾小球对损伤的反应很重要。越来越多的证据表明，间充质基质细胞，如基质成纤维细胞、周细胞和血管平滑肌细胞，不仅可以指定组织的结构，还可以调节发育过程、血管化和细胞命运规范。此外，通过与邻近细胞的串扰和间接通过基质重塑，基质细胞可以调节多种过程，例如免疫、炎症、再生以及在适应不良反应的背景下——纤维化。对肾系膜细胞分子表型的深入了解表明它们是肾小球的一种特殊基质细胞。这里，我们回顾了我们目前对间充质基质细胞的理解，并讨论了它如何影响系膜细胞的功能及其在疾病中的作用。这些新见解可能会导致更好地了解肾脏疾病的发病机制和开发慢性肾脏病的新疗法。