Apoptosis is triggered by the cyclic AMP signalling pathway in renal mesangial cells.

Glomerular mesangial cells are regarded as specialized smooth muscle cells located within the renal glomeruli and fulfilling important functions in glomerular physiology and pathophysiology. Here, we report that activation of the cyclic AMP signalling pathway by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, forskolin, or the beta 2-adrenergic receptor agonist salbutamol results in induction of apoptosis in mesangial cells. Activation of the apoptotic programme results in DNA fragmentation which is visible for most forms of apoptosis and is paralleled by enrichment of cytosolic DNA/histone complexes, an increasing number of cellular 3'-OH-fragmented DNA ends and typical nuclear chromatin condensation. Induction of apoptosis was found to be dependent on translation and independent of nitric oxide synthase activity.