Cyclosporine A (CsA) is a potent immunosuppressant used to prevent organ transplant rejection and in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. However, chronic CsA nephropathy is the major limiting factor to its widespread use. The exact mechanisms of CsA-induced renal damage remain to be fully elucidated. The objective of the current research was to examine whether CsA treatment induced any glomerular mesangial cell alterations. In this research goal, human mesangial cells (HMCs) were treated with CsA for various time points. CsA caused an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Microarray analysis of mesangial cells treated with CsA also indicated 282 dysregulated genes. Bioinformatic analysis of these 282 genes indicated enriched apoptotic oxidative stress, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and transforming growth factor-β signaling in response to CsA treatment. The focus of this study was directed on oxidative stress and MAPK signaling as potential novel mechanisms of CsA nephrotoxicity. One key contributor to oxidative stress, thioredoxin interacting protein, was significantly upregulated following CsA treatment. Inhibition of the MAPK pathway resulted in attenuation of the CsA-induced mesangial cell alterations. These findings suggest a major role for ROS, oxidative stress, and MAPK signaling in promoting CsA-induced glomerular dysfunction and subsequent nephrotoxicity.

Background: Renal cells such as mesangial cells are known to secrete metalloproteinases that are capable of degrading the constituents of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Disruption of the GBM via cytokine-induced alterations in matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) may be an important mechanism in the renal disease process. In renal disease, both resident renal cells and infiltrating immune cells are capable of secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumour necrosing factor-α (TNFα) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). In this study, we examine the potential of these cytokines to alter levels of MMPs and TIMPs in human mesangial cells. Methods: The T-HMC human mesangial cell line was cultured in RPMI 1640 containing 5% serum. Cells at confluency were serum starved for 24 h prior to exposure to TNF-α (0.1–100 ng/ml) or IL-1β (0.1–100 ng/ml) or a combination of both for 48 h. Activity of MMP-9 was examined by gelatin zymography and TIMP-1 expression was analysed by Western blotting. Results: TNF-α but not IL-1β resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the latent form of MMP-9 and a decrease in TIMP-1 production. Co-treatment with IL-1β had no effect on the induction of MMP-9 but increased the inhibition of TIMP-1 in the presence of TNF-α. Inhibition of PKC provided evidence of the importance of this pathway in mediating the TNF-α-induced suppression of TIMP-1. Activation of the ERK 1/2 MAPK mediated both the upregulation of MMP-9 and the inhibition of TIMP-1 following TNF-α treatment. p38 MAPK activation was also found to be involved in the TNF-α-stimulated MMP-9. Conclusion: The cytokine TNF-α causes different effects on human mesangial MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression which are mediated through the TNF-RI, and the different signalling pathways of PKC, ERK 1/2 and p38 MAPK. This suggests an important role for pro-inflammatory cytokines in renal disease progression.

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