Inhibitory effect of Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris on human glomerular mesangial cell proliferation induced by native LDL

Native LDL, in low concentrations, promotes proliferation of cultured human glomerular mesangial cells. LDL stimulated [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA of human glomerular mesangial cells. Increased concentrations of LDL led to increased [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation. When LDL concentrations were 5, 10 and 50 microg ml(-1), [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation was 919.5+/-216, 1106+/-132, and 1200+/-210, respectively. When Cordyceps sinensis 100, 200, 300, 400 microg ml(-1) plus LDL 10 microg ml(-1) were added, [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation was 99+/-19 and 53+/-8, respectively, P<0.01 compared with controls. With Cordyceps militaris at similar concentrations plus LDL 10 microg ml(-1), [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation was respectively 192+/-75, 168+/-66, 145+/-53 and 72+/-16, P<0.01 compared with controls. The data suggest that LDL may play a critical role in mediating mesangial cell hypertrophy or proliferation involved in the development of glomerulosclerosis. Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris inhibited, to a certain degree, proliferation of cultured human glomerular mesangial cell induced by LDL.