Contrast media augmented apoptosis of cultured renal mesangial, tubular, epithelial, endothelial, and hepatic cells

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE. Nephrotoxicity of contrast media, resulting in apoptosis and acute necrosis of tubular cells, is well documented. No studies concerning mesangial cells apoptosis have been published yet. AIM: Apoptosis of cultured mesangial, tubular, and hepatic cell lines was investigated following exposure to different contrast media. METHODS. Apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL assay and verified by Mayer Hematoxylin staining. RESULTS. Iopromide, Ioxaglate, and Ioxatalamate induced apoptosis in all cell cultures at final concentrations ranged from 0.1% to 10.0%. However, only 1% to 10% Iomeprol elicited a significant apoptosis. Moreover, at 10% concentration, Iomeprol induced significantly less apoptosis than Iopromide, Ioxaglate, or Ioxatalamate. CONCLUSIONS. First, Iomeprol, which has a different physico-chemical properties, proved to be less proapoptotic compared with other contrast compounds. Second, all types of cells similarly respond by apoptosis to contrast media induced injury. However, apoptosis of mesangial cells might generate additional deleterious effects in vivo.