Inhibition of Vascular Permeability Factor Production by Ciclosporin in Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome

In order to ascertain whether ciclosporin (Cs) has an inhibitory effect on the vascular permeability factor (VPF) production, various quantities of Cs were added to T lymphocyte cultures from 8 children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and the VPF activity of culture supernatants was assayed. As a result of the addition of Cs, a dose-dependent inhibition of VPF production was seen. VPF production was inhibited by a level of between 100 and 250 ng/ml of Cs in vitro. The reduction of proteinuria by Cs in MCNS might be due to the inhibition of VPF production.