Cocaine interacts with macrophages to modulate mesangial cell proliferation.

Human immunodeficiency virus infection is associated with the development of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The majority of these patients with renal disease, however, are also cocaine abusers, but it is unknown what role cocaine may play in the development of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. We undertook the present study to determine in vitro whether cocaine can modulate mesangial cell (MC) proliferation, a process believed to be a precursor to the development of glomerulosclerosis, either directly or indirectly via interaction with macrophages (M phi). Cocaine alone was not found to alter significantly either MC number or MC [3H]thymidine incorporation. However, when MC were incubated with secretory products collected from M phi preincubated with standard medium or medium containing cocaine, MC proliferation was found to be significantly enhanced with secretory products from M phi preincubated with cocaine in both serum-free (P