Out of the 29 cyclosporin (Cs) metabolites defined so far, 10 representative ones were isolated from bile of liver grafted patients, purified by HPLC, and their structure specified by FAB-MS and 1H NMR. These were used to determine the growth inhibitory effects on Sprague Dawley rat glomerular mesangial cells (MC). Metabolite dilutions were added to cultured MC for 72 hours and [3H]-thymidine incorporation was measured. A 50% growth inhibition by single metabolites (M) on MC was achieved at the following concentrations (mg/liter): Cs: 1.25; M21: 6.0; M18: 9.0; M26: 10.5; M1: 10.8; M8: 10.8; M17: 12.5; M13: greater than 20.0; M25: greater than 25.0; M203-218: greater than 50.0; H355: greater than 50.0. The activity was correlated to the degree of metabolization as the group of six "active" compounds included four primary metabolites (hydroxylated or demethylated derivatives of Cs: M21, M18, M1, M17), whereas the four "inactive" compounds exclusively were secondary metabolites (demethylated, hydroxylated and/or oxidized primary metabolites: M13, M25, M203-218, H355). Combinations of active metabolites with or without Cs resulted in an additive antiproliferative effect. Although single metabolite activities are not relevant in vivo, already combinations of three (M1 + M17 + M18) or four metabolites (M17 + M18 + M21 + H355) resulted in a significant growth inhibition at concentrations of the participating metabolites measured in urine of liver transplanted patients. Moreover, significant synergistic activities were determined with combinations including secondary metabolites. A final set of experiments discharged unspecific cytotoxic effects. The inhibition of MC [3H]-thymidine incorporation was completely reversible and moreover, direct mesangiolysis was excluded for both single and combined metabolite actions. Thus, considering rat MC proliferation as an initial kidney cell model system for subsequent, more detailed studies measuring functional parameters, we have demonstrated that activities of single metabolites are related to their chemical structure. More importantly, mimicking to some extent the patients' situation, combinations of metabolites at concentrations occurring in vivo reduced MC proliferation in culture in an at least an additive fashion, suggesting that side effects of Cs treatment might be attributed to combined Cs metabolite actions.