TRANILAST INHIBITS THE EFFECTS OF PLATELET-DERIVED GROWTH-FACTOR ON CELL-PROLIFERATION AND INDUCTION OF NITRIC-OXIDE

The effects of tranilast on DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in cu ltured rat mesangial cells, treated with platelet-derived growth facto r (PDGF), were investigated. Tranilast significantly inhibited PDGF-st imulated DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in a dose-dependent mann er. In the absence of PDGF, it also enhanced cytokine-induced nitric o xide (NO) production. PDGF significantly inhibited cytokine-induced NO production, but tranilast completely abolished this inhibitory effect of PDGF. These results show that tranilast inhibits PDGF-induced prol iferation of mesangial cells under both normal and inflammatory condit ions.