TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN PERITONEAL DIALYSIS RESEARCH PERITONEAL MESOTHELIAL CELL CULTURE AND BIOLOGY

The peritoneal mesothelium is composed of an extensive monolayer of mesothelial cells that lines the body’s serous cavity and internal organs and was previously thought to act principally as a protective nonadhesive lubricating sur-face to facilitate intracoelomic movement. With the intro-duction of peritoneal dialysis over three decades ago, there has been much interest in the cell biology of peritoneal mesothelial cells. Independent studies have highlighted specific properties of the peritoneal mesothelial cell, in-cluding antigen presentation, regenerative properties, clearance of fibrin; synthesis of cytokines, growth factors, and matrix proteins; and secretion of lubricants to protect the tissue from abrasion, adhesion, infection, and tumor dissemination. It is now evident that the mesothelium is not merely a passive membrane but, rather, a dynamic mem