Effect of mycophenolic acid on MPC-1 murine podocytes

Mycophenolic Acid (MPA) is the active component of the immunosuppressant Mycophenolate Mofetil, a potent inhibitor of the inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase. Direct effects of MPA on podocytes remain largely unknown. In order to elucidate genes and pathways affected by the drug, cultured murine podocytes exposed to MPA were subjected to RNA sequencing (RNASeq) analysis. Untreated samples served as controls. The RNASeq of MPA treated podocytes identified 351 significantly affected genes (padj < 0.05; 130 downregulated / 221 upregulated). Gene Ontology-Term enrichment analysis outlined two major groups of terms of particular interest, namely actin associated terms and terms related to inflammatory cell death. In conclusion, MPA treatment has a substantial effect on the transcriptome of podocytes. Analysis of the sequencing data revealed several non-immune cell dependent areas in which MPA possibly has a favorable effect on podocytes.