Effect of MPA treatment studied

Scientists have used quantitative analysis processes to identify the effect a therapeutic treatment has on kidney cells.

In a study, published by Proteome Science and undertaken by a team at University Medical Centre Goettingen, the scientists explained that mycophenolic acid (MPA) is a treatment commonly used as a post-transplantation medicine to prevent organ rejection.

By using quantitative analysis processes, the team sought to identify the proteome alterations in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293) after a dose of MPA.

A significant apoptosis was observed after MPA treatment, with the proliferation assay demonstrating that therapeutic MPA concentration causes a dose dependent inhibition of HEK-293 cell proliferation.

The expression of five proteins was down-regulated following the treatment, with the majority of the altered proteins linked to the cytoskeleton, chromatin structure/dynamics and energy production/conversion.

"Further characterisation of these proteins may help to understand the diverse cellular effects of MPA in addition to its immunosuppressive activity," the scientists concluded.