Hepatocyte Growth Factor on CsA-Induced Nephropathy

Cyclosporine (CsA) has several side effects, the most serious being nephrotoxicity. CsA-induced nephropathy is diagnosed by clinical data, including BUN, Cre, urine volume. However, if we can detect the drug-induced nephropathy before clinical data change, nephropathy treatment will be easier. To address this problem, we have examined the effects of CsA treatment on hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) levels in rats. HGF, originally identified as a potent mitogen for mature hepatocytes, is a stromal-derived polypeptied that targets a wide variety of cells, predominantly epithelial and endothelial cells. Exogeneous HGF remarkably stimulated mitogenesis of renal tubular cells and induced rapid reconstruction of normal renal tissue structure after acute renal failure and after unilateral nephrectomy.