title: Combined mycophenolate mofetil and losartan therapy arrests established injury in the remnant kidney.
abstract: Previously it was shown that early treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) attenuated renal inflammation, glomerulosclerosis (GS), and interstitial expansion in the 5/6 ablation (NX) model. Angiotensin II antagonists also mitigate renal injury in NX, presumably by lowering glomerular pressure (P(GC)). This study investigated: (1) whether combined MMF/angiotensin II antagonists treatment affords superior protection compared with the respective monotherapies; and (2) whether this association is effective even when instituted late in the course of the disease. Adult male Munich-Wistar rats underwent NX, remaining untreated for 30 d. BP, albuminuria, and the extent of GS, interstitial expansion, and macrophage infiltration were then determined in 17 rats. The remaining 118 rats received either inert vehicle or one of the following: MMF, 10 mg/kg by gavage once daily; losartan potassium (L), 20 mg/dl in drinking water; or combined MMF/L treatment. Sixty days after ablation, untreated NX rats exhibited marked glomerular hypertension, which was attenuated by MMF and, more effectively, by either L or combined MMF/L treatment. At 120 d, hypertension and albuminuria were worsened in untreated NX rats, which exhibited intense macrophage infiltration and severe glomerular and interstitial disease. L and, to a lesser extent, MMF monotherapies attenuated these abnormalities, without preventing their progression. In rats given combined MMF/L therapy, macrophage infiltration, GS, and interstitial expansion remained at pretreatment levels. By acting on two distinct pathogenic mechanisms, combined MMF/L treatment arrested established renal injury in the NX model. Further investigation is needed to determine whether this association can prevent renal scarring in other models and in human disease.
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clarice Kazue
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: DE Lourdes Noronha
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Maria Avancini Costa
authors.initials: DMAC
authors.lastname: Malheiros
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gláucia Rutigliano
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivone Braga
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: DE Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zatz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D019808:Losartan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009392:Nephrectomy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D019808:Losartan