Thrombospondin (TSP) is produced by glomerular mesangial cells and one of the extracellular matrix in the mesangium, whereas the physiological role of TSP in mesangial cells is poorly understood. In order to know whether TSP modulates mesangial cell functions, we investigated the effects of TSP on cell adhesion, proliferation, synthesis of extracellular matrix and serine proteinases in cultured human mesangial cells. The substratum of TSP inhibited cell attachment and spreading in a TSP-dose-dependent manner in mesangial cells. Soluble TSP (50 micrograms/ml) also caused the detachment of fully adherent mesangial cells, whereas TSP less than 10 micrograms/ml did not. [3H]-thymidine incorporation into mesangial cells was dose-dependently reduced by TSP. On the other hand, the production of both fibronectin and type IV collagen from mesangial cells was enhanced by TSP. The incubation of mesangial cells with TSP increased the secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), while plasminogen activator inhibitor-type 1 (PAI-1) decreased. These observations indicate that TSP inhibits cell adhesion and proliferation in cultured human mesangial cells. It is also suggested that TSP influences the metabolism of mesangial matrix by modulating both synthesis and degradation of matrix components. Thus, TSP, may be an important mediator of mesangial cell functions in an autocrine fashion.