Differential effects of egf on the repair of cellular functions following dichlorovinyl-l-cysteine-induced injury. Nowak, Grazyna, Kenneth B. Keasler, Douglas E. McKeller, and Rick G. Schnellmann. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 4301 West Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205-7199
APStracts 5:0183F, 1998.
This study examined the repair of renal proximal tubule cellular (RPTC) functions following sublethal injury induced by the nephrotoxicant S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC). DCVC exposure resulted in 31% cell death and loss 24 h following the treatment. Monolayer confluence recovered through migration/spreading but not proliferation after 6 days. Basal, uncoupled, and ouabain-sensitive oxygen consumption (QO2) decreased 47, 76, and 62%, respectively, 24 h after DCVC exposure. Na+-K+-ATPase activity and Na+-dependent glucose uptake were inhibited 80 and 68%, respectively, 24 h after DCVC exposure. None of these functions recovered over time. Addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) following DCVC exposure did not prevent decreases in basal, uncoupled and ouabain-sensitive QO2s and Na+-K+-ATPase activity but promoted their recovery over 4-6 days. In contrast, no recovery of Na+-dependent glucose uptake occured in the presence of EGF. These data show that: 1) DCVC exposure decreases mitochondrial function, Na+-K+-ATPase activity, active Na+ transport and Na+-dependent glucose uptake in sublethally-injured RPTC; 2) DCVC-treated RPTC do not proliferate nor regain their physiological functions in this model; and 3) EGF promotes recovery of mitochondrial function and active Na+ transport but not Na+-dependent glucose uptake. These results suggest that cysteine conjugates may cause renal dysfunction, in part, by decreasing RPTC functions and inhibiting their repair.

Received 6 July 1998; accepted in final form 8 October 1998.
APS Manuscript Number F161-8.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Renal Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1998 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 10 November 1998