Human renal mesangial cells are a target for the anti‐inflammatory action of 9‐cis retinoic acid

• Published in: British journal of pharmacology Vol. 131; no. 8; pp. 1673 - 1683
• Main Authors: Manzano, V Moreno, Muñoz, J C Sepúlveda, Jiménez, J Rodriguez, Puyol, M Rodriguez, Puyol, D Rodriguez, Kitamura, M, Cazaña, F J Lucio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-12-2000; Nature Publishing
• Subjects: 9‐cis retinoic acid; Adult; all‐trans retinoic acid; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Bones, joints and connective tissue. Antiinflammatory agents; Catalase - drug effects; Catalase - metabolism; Cell Adhesion - drug effects; Cell Division - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Coculture Techniques; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fibronectins - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Glomerular Mesangium - cytology; Glomerular Mesangium - drug effects; Glomerular Mesangium - metabolism; Glutathione - drug effects; Glutathione - metabolism; Humans; hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology; inflammation; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - genetics; intercellular cell adhesion molecule‐1; Medical sciences; Mesangial cell; monocyte; Monocytes - cytology; Osteopontin; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Receptors, Retinoic Acid - genetics; Retinoid X Receptors; RNA, Messenger - drug effects; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Sialoglycoproteins - genetics; Time Factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Tretinoin - pharmacology; Urinary system; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - genetics; vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1; Human; Agonist; Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1; Intercellular adhesion molecule 1; Mesangial cell; Toxicity; Antiinflammatory agent; Retinoid; In vitro; Biological activity; Kidney; Urinary system; Cell death; Glomerulus; Mechanism of action; Retinoic acid; Apoptosis; Biological receptor; Tretinoin
• ISSN: 0007-1188; 1476-5381
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0703728

Mesangial cells play an active role in the inflammatory response to glomerular injury. We have studied in cultured human mesangial cells (CHMC) several effects of 9‐cis retinoic acid (9‐cRA), an activator of both retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs).
9‐cRA inhibited foetal calf serum‐induced CHMC proliferation. It also prevented CHMC death induced by the inflammatory mediator H2O2. This preventive effect was not due to any increase in H2O2 catabolism and it persisted even when both catalase and glutathione synthesis were inhibited. Finally, 9‐cRA diminished monocyte adhesion to FCS‐stimulated CHMC. Interestingly, the retinoid also inhibited in FCS‐stimulated cells the protein expression of two mesangial adhesion molecules, fibronectin and osteopontin, but it did not modify the protein expression of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 and vascular adhesion molecule‐1.
All major RARs and RXRs isotypes were expressed in CHMC regardless of the presence or absence of 9‐cRA. Transcripts to RAR‐α, RAR‐β and RXR‐α increased after incubation with 9‐cRA whereas RXR‐γ was inhibited, suggesting a major role for RARs and RXRs in 9‐cRA‐anti‐inflammatory effects.
9‐cRA was toxic only at 50 μM (a concentration 50–5000 times higher than required for the effects above). Cell death occurred by apoptosis, whose onset was associated with a pronounced increase in catalase activity and reduced glutathione content, being more effectively induced by all‐trans retinoic acid. Modulation of the oxidant/antioxidant balance failed to inhibit apoptosis.
We conclude that mesangial cells might be a target for the treatment of inflammatory glomerulopathies with 9‐cRA.
British Journal of Pharmacology (2000) 131, 1673–1683; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0703728