Renal mesangial cells (RMC) are perivascular cells located within the central portion of the glomerular tuft between capillary loops. Mesangial cells have a variety of functions including synthesis and assembly of the mesangial matrix, endocytosis and processing of plasma macromolecules, and control of glomerular hemodynamics via mesangial cell contraction or release of vasoactive hormones. Mesangial cells also synthesize, assemble and control turnover of the mesangial matrix. Matrix overproduction of mesangial cells has been observed in various glomerular diseases, such as IgA nephropathy, mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis, glomerulosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy. Such critical involvements suggest renal mesangial cells are an ideal model for studying mesangial injury and glomerular functions under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. HRMC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human renal tissue. HRMC are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 105 cells in 1 ml volume. HRMC are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to fibronectin, Thy-1, and/or smooth muscle actin. HRMC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HRMC are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings under the conditions specified by ScienCell Research Laboratories. Recommended Medium It is recommended to use Mesangial Cell Medium (MsCM, Cat. #4201) for the culturing of HRMC in vitro.