Nilotinib attenuates renal injury and prolongs survival in chronic kidney disease.

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib is beneficial in experimental renal diseases, but the effect of the new tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib on the progression of renal failure is unknown. We administered either nilotinib or vehicle to Sprague-Dawley rats beginning 2 weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx) or laparotomy and continuing for 8 weeks. Serum creatinine levels were significantly lower in the nilotinib group after 6 and 8 weeks of treatment. Furthermore, nilotinib-treated rats had less proteinuria, attenuated glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial damage, and reduced macrophage infiltration into the tubulointerstitium. Treatment with nilotinib also significantly decreased renal cortical expression of profibrogenic genes, such as IL-1β and monocyte chemotactic protein-1, which correlated closely with the tubulointerstitial damage score and ED1-positive macrophages score. In addition, nilotinib treatment significantly prolonged survival. Taken together, these results suggest that nilotinib may limit the progression of chronic kidney disease.