Effects of cyclosporin A on proliferation of cultured rat mesangial cells.

The proliferation of mesangial cells on cyclosporin (CsA) test medium was studied by MTT assay and TNF-alpha in cultured supernatant was examined by using ELISA. The results showed that cyclosporin A significantly inhibited the proliferation of mesangial cells at the concentration between 0.25-15 micrograms/ml (IC50 1 microgram). This action appeared to be dose-dependent. Release of TNF-alpha from mesangial cells stimulated by LPS was also dose-dependently suppressed. It is suggested that cyclosporin A play an important role in antiproliferation mechanism of mesangial cells in vitro.