Lack of effect of verapamil and MDL 646, a cytoprotective PGE1 analogue on cyclosporin A nephrotoxicity in vitro.

Nephrotoxicity is the most troublesome side effect of cyclosporin A (CSA) therapy. In vitro studies have shown that verapamil and PGE analogues can protect human and rat kidney allografts and murine pancreatic B cells from CSA cytotoxicity. The LLC-PK.1 pig kidney cell line has recently been shown to be a use-ful in vitro model system for studying CSA nephrotoxicity. We have adopted the MTT assay to assess the effects of CSA on LCC-PK.1 cell growth and have examined the effects of verapamil and MDL 646, a cyto-protective PGE1 analogue, on CSA nephrotoxicity. The results show that neither compound prevents the cytotoxic effects of CSA on kidney cells.