Dipyridamole inhibits in vitro renal fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis

Fibroblasts are universally recognized in situations of tubulointerstitial injury, where their presence has been shown to be a marker of disease progression. The objective of this study was to determine whether the functions of fibroblasts relevant to fibrogenesis can be modified in vitro with dipyridamole. Cells were obtained from obstructed rat renal tissue and characterized on the basis of immunohistochemical findings. Fibroblasts constituted all of the cells from passage 3. Functional parameters were measured in cells cultured with 1, 5, and 50 micromol/L dipyridamole and compared to basal parameters of cells grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium plus 10% fetal calf serum (control). Northern-blot analysis indicated that dipyridamole decreased procollagen alpha1(I) messenger ribonucleic acid expression (P <.05, 50 micromol/L vs control), results that were reflected in a reduction in total collagen secretion as measured on the basis of hydroxyproline incorporation (P <.001, 50 micromol/L vs control). Mitogenesis, as measured on the basis of incorporation of tritiated thymidine, was decreased in a dose-dependent fashion by dipyridamole. Likewise, 50 micromol/L dipyridamole reduced cell-population growth to 16.8% +/- 2.1% of basal growth over 3 days (P <.001 vs control). Effects of dipyridamole on population growth were prevented by coincubation with a protein kinase G inhibitor peptide (P <.001 vs 50 micromol/L dipyridamole; P = not significant vs control). No such effect was observed with inhibitors for protein kinase A (H-89) and protein kinase C (bisindolylmaleimide I). Consistent with a protein kinase G-dependent mechanism, immunofluorescence staining indicated that dipyridamole increased basal expression of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that at clinically relevant concentrations, dipyridamole inhibits profibrotic activities of renal fibroblasts. Effects on mitogenesis are mediated through a cyclic guanosine monophosphate-protein kinase G effector pathway.