Inhibitory Effects of Ticlopidine and Dilazep on Serum-Induced DNA Synthesis in Cultured Rat Renal Mesangial Cells

The effect of two anti-platelet drugs, ticlopidine and dilazep, on the fetal bovine serum (FBS)-induced DNA synthesis of cultured rat renal mesangial cells was assessed by means of an [3H] thymidine incorporation assay. Each drug inhibited the 2% FBS-induced [3H] thymidine incorporation in a concentration-dependent manner, similar to the inhibition of dipyridamole. The [3H] thymidine incorporation was significantly suppressed by the treatment of more than 1 pM ticlopidine or dilazep. It was thus suggested that ticlopidine and dilazep, might prevent the progression of such glomerular diseases as proliferative glomerulonephritis, at least in part, by suppressing mesangial cell proliferation.