Tranilast inhibits the effects of platelet-derived growth factor on cell proliferation and induction of nitric oxide.

The effects of tranilast on DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in cultured rat mesangial cells, treated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), were investigated. Tranilast significantly inhibited PDGF-stimulated DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. In the absence of PDGF, it also enhanced cytokine-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, PDGF significantly inhibited cytokine-induced NO production, but tranilast completely abolished this inhibitory effect of PDGF. These results show that tranilast inhibits PDGF-induced proliferation of mesangial cells under both normal and inflammatory conditions.