Complement (C5b-9) induces DNA synthesis in rat mesangial cells in vitro  William G. Couser, Jeffrey W. Pippin, Stuart J. Shankland  Kidney International  Volume 59, Issue 3, Pages 905-912 (March 2001) DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1755.2001.059003905.x Copyright © 2001 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 C5b-9 induces rat mesangial cell (MC) proliferation. Exposing growth-arrested MCs to anti-Thy1 antibody and C6-deficient PVG serum (C-) did not increase DNA synthesis measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation, compared with control growth-arrested MCs that were not exposed to antibody. In contrast, sublytic C5b-9 injury induced with antibody and normal PVG serum (C+) increased DNA synthesis almost twofold compared with control (*P < 0.001). Kidney International 2001 59, 905-912DOI: (10.1046/j.1523-1755.2001.059003905.x) Copyright © 2001 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 C5b-9 formation occurs when C6 is reconstituted in C6-deficient PVG (C-) serum in the presence of antibody. C3 immunostaining was detected following exposure to antibody and C+ PVG (A) and C- PVG (B) serum. C5b-9 staining was detected only in the presence of C+ PVG serum (C) and not C- PVG serum (D). Kidney International 2001 59, 905-912DOI: (10.1046/j.1523-1755.2001.059003905.x) Copyright © 2001 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

Figure 3 C5b-9 augments platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced mesangial cell (MC) proliferation. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) increased 3H-thymidine incorporation in serum-starved MCs when exposed to anti-Thy1 antibody and C6-deficient PVG serum (C- ○) at concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 ng/mL (P < 0.05 vs. no PDGF, 0.1 ng/mL PDGF). Sublytic C5b-9 attack induced by antibody and normal PVG serum (C+; ○) augmented PDGF-induced DNA synthesis (3H-thymidine incorporation) at each PDGF concentration used compared with control. Kidney International 2001 59, 905-912DOI: (10.1046/j.1523-1755.2001.059003905.x) Copyright © 2001 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

Figure 4 Neutralizing PDGF does not alter C5b-9–induced MC proliferation. Exposing serum-starved MC to PDGF increases DNA synthesis, measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation (column three), which is blocked by adding an anti-PDGF–neutralizing antibody (column four). In contrast, anti-PDGF–neutralizing antibody did not reduce DNA synthesis induced by sublytic C5b-9 attack (C+; column two) compared with control C+ (column one). *P < 0.01 vs. C- **P < 0.01 vs. C+, C+ anti-PDGF; ***P < 0.01 vs. PDGF. Kidney International 2001 59, 905-912DOI: (10.1046/j.1523-1755.2001.059003905.x) Copyright © 2001 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

Figure 5 Neutralizing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) does not alter C5b-9–induced MC proliferation. Exposing complement stimulated MCs (C+) to neutralizing anti-bFGF or control IgG did not alter the increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation. *P = 0.2333 vs. C+; **P = 0.2184 vs. C+. Kidney International 2001 59, 905-912DOI: (10.1046/j.1523-1755.2001.059003905.x) Copyright © 2001 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

Figure 6 Inhibiting reactive oxygen synthase (ROS) reduces C5b-9–induced MC proliferation. The ROS inhibitors catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased 3H-thymidine incorporation induced by sublytic C5b-9 (C+) in a concentration-dependent manner. Symbols are: (•) C+ with SOD; (○) C- with catalase; *P < 0.001 vs. C+; **P < 0.0001 vs. C+. Kidney International 2001 59, 905-912DOI: (10.1046/j.1523-1755.2001.059003905.x) Copyright © 2001 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions