Aspirin Impairs Transport of Protective Osmolytes in Renal Inner Medullary Collecting Duct Cells

Abstract

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) represent one of the most common classes of medications used worldwide for treatment of pain and inflammation, and their nephrotoxic effects have been well documented. This study is focused on aspirin action on the normal adaptive responses of cells in the hypertonic renal inner medulla, using a cultured cell model. Following adaptation to hypertonic conditions, further treatment of both MDCK and IMCD₃ cells for 24h with 1.0 mM aspirin produced significant inhibition of the transport systems for the osmolytes betaine and taurine. Caspase 3 was not activated by this treatment, indicating that transport inhibition was not due to apoptotic events. Acetaminophen and caffeine, common in analgesic mixtures, had a similar inhibitory effect. We conclude that interference with osmolyte accumulation by medullary cells may help to explain in part the nephrotoxicity due to long-term use of NSAIDs and analgesic formulations.