Microarray analysis of the effects of Acthar Gel versus methylprednisolone in a model of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in female rats.

Hayes K, Wright D

Physiological reports1 Apr 2025Cited by 3 (Europe PMC)

PMID40223398PMCIDPMC11994893DOI10.14814/phy2.70321PepBankPUB-40223398

Summary

Acthar® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) is an alternative treatment for patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) who cannot tolerate or do not adequately respond to glucocorticoids or calcineurin inhibitors. We compared the effects of Acthar versus methylprednisolone (MP) on gene expression in the kidney cortex in a rat model of FSGS induced by puromycin. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks old) were treated for 8 weeks with Acthar 60 IU/kg (n = 5), MP 2 mg/kg (n = 5), or control (n = 4). On Day 56, animals were sacrificed, and RNA samples of kidney cortex tissue were analyzed using microarrays. Compared with control, Acthar significantly decreased the expression of more genes related to inflammation, immune function, and fibrosis than MP. A subset of these genes exhibited significantly larger fold changes in expression after treatment with Acthar versus MP, including C1qb and C1qc (complement cascade), Ccr2 and Tcrb (immune function), and Mfap4 and Vim (fibrosis). These results suggest that Acthar acts as an immunomodulator with a distinct mechanism of action from that of MP. Their differential alteration of gene expression in the kidney cortex suggests that Acthar may be more effective than MP in reducing inflammation and fibrosis in FSGS, which could slow disease progression.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study8

8 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with FSGS, Acthar suppressed more inflammation, immune function, and fibrosis genes than methylprednisolone.
In plain wordsIn rats, Acthar suppressed more disease-related genes than methylprednisolone.
Peptide
ACTH (corticotropin)
Outcome
IncreaseExtent of gene expression suppression
Study
Ratn = 10
Female Sprague-Dawley rats with puromycin-induced FSGS
Comparator
Methylprednisolone
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Kidney and urinary
Studied dose
60 IU/kg · 8 weeksAs given in this study (Rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Compared with control, Acthar significantly decreased the expression of more genes related to inflammation, immune function, and fibrosis than MP.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We compared the effects of Acthar versus methylprednisolone (MP) on gene expression in the kidney cortex in a rat model of FSGS induced by puromycin. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks old) were treated for 8 weeks with Acthar 60 IU/kg (n = 5), MP 2 mg/kg (n = 5), or control (n = 4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4022339802
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with FSGS, Acthar produced a larger C1qb expression fold change than methylprednisolone.
In plain wordsIn rats, Acthar changed C1qb expression more than methylprednisolone.
Peptide
ACTH (corticotropin)
Outcome
Not applicableC1qb expression fold change
Study
Ratn = 10
Female Sprague-Dawley rats with puromycin-induced FSGS
Comparator
Methylprednisolone
Outcome group
Immune response · Kidney and urinary
Studied dose
60 IU/kg · 8 weeksAs given in this study (Rat).
Source sentences
Summary
A subset of these genes exhibited significantly larger fold changes in expression after treatment with Acthar versus MP, including C1qb and C1qc (complement cascade), Ccr2 and Tcrb (immune function), and Mfap4 and Vim (fibrosis).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We compared the effects of Acthar versus methylprednisolone (MP) on gene expression in the kidney cortex in a rat model of FSGS induced by puromycin. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks old) were treated for 8 weeks with Acthar 60 IU/kg (n = 5), MP 2 mg/kg (n = 5), or control (n = 4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4022339803
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with FSGS, Acthar produced a larger C1qc expression fold change than methylprednisolone.
In plain wordsIn rats, Acthar changed C1qc expression more than methylprednisolone.
Peptide
ACTH (corticotropin)
Outcome
Not applicableC1qc expression fold change
Study
Ratn = 10
Female Sprague-Dawley rats with puromycin-induced FSGS
Comparator
Methylprednisolone
Outcome group
Immune response · Kidney and urinary
Studied dose
60 IU/kg · 8 weeksAs given in this study (Rat).
Source sentences
Summary
A subset of these genes exhibited significantly larger fold changes in expression after treatment with Acthar versus MP, including C1qb and C1qc (complement cascade), Ccr2 and Tcrb (immune function), and Mfap4 and Vim (fibrosis).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We compared the effects of Acthar versus methylprednisolone (MP) on gene expression in the kidney cortex in a rat model of FSGS induced by puromycin. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks old) were treated for 8 weeks with Acthar 60 IU/kg (n = 5), MP 2 mg/kg (n = 5), or control (n = 4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4022339804
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with FSGS, Acthar produced a larger Ccr2 expression fold change than methylprednisolone.
In plain wordsIn rats, Acthar changed Ccr2 expression more than methylprednisolone.
Peptide
ACTH (corticotropin)
Outcome
Not applicableCcr2 expression fold change
Study
Ratn = 10
Female Sprague-Dawley rats with puromycin-induced FSGS
Comparator
Methylprednisolone
Outcome group
Immune response · Kidney and urinary
Studied dose
60 IU/kg · 8 weeksAs given in this study (Rat).
Source sentences
Summary
A subset of these genes exhibited significantly larger fold changes in expression after treatment with Acthar versus MP, including C1qb and C1qc (complement cascade), Ccr2 and Tcrb (immune function), and Mfap4 and Vim (fibrosis).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We compared the effects of Acthar versus methylprednisolone (MP) on gene expression in the kidney cortex in a rat model of FSGS induced by puromycin. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks old) were treated for 8 weeks with Acthar 60 IU/kg (n = 5), MP 2 mg/kg (n = 5), or control (n = 4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4022339805
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with FSGS, Acthar produced a larger Tcrb expression fold change than methylprednisolone.
In plain wordsIn rats, Acthar changed Tcrb expression more than methylprednisolone.
Peptide
ACTH (corticotropin)
Outcome
Not applicableTcrb expression fold change
Study
Ratn = 10
Female Sprague-Dawley rats with puromycin-induced FSGS
Comparator
Methylprednisolone
Outcome group
Immune response · Kidney and urinary
Studied dose
60 IU/kg · 8 weeksAs given in this study (Rat).
Source sentences
Summary
A subset of these genes exhibited significantly larger fold changes in expression after treatment with Acthar versus MP, including C1qb and C1qc (complement cascade), Ccr2 and Tcrb (immune function), and Mfap4 and Vim (fibrosis).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We compared the effects of Acthar versus methylprednisolone (MP) on gene expression in the kidney cortex in a rat model of FSGS induced by puromycin. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks old) were treated for 8 weeks with Acthar 60 IU/kg (n = 5), MP 2 mg/kg (n = 5), or control (n = 4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4022339806
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with FSGS, Acthar produced a larger Mfap4 expression fold change than methylprednisolone.
In plain wordsIn rats, Acthar changed Mfap4 expression more than methylprednisolone.
Peptide
ACTH (corticotropin)
Outcome
Not applicableMfap4 expression fold change
Study
Ratn = 10
Female Sprague-Dawley rats with puromycin-induced FSGS
Comparator
Methylprednisolone
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Kidney and urinary
Studied dose
60 IU/kg · 8 weeksAs given in this study (Rat).
Source sentences
Summary
A subset of these genes exhibited significantly larger fold changes in expression after treatment with Acthar versus MP, including C1qb and C1qc (complement cascade), Ccr2 and Tcrb (immune function), and Mfap4 and Vim (fibrosis).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We compared the effects of Acthar versus methylprednisolone (MP) on gene expression in the kidney cortex in a rat model of FSGS induced by puromycin. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks old) were treated for 8 weeks with Acthar 60 IU/kg (n = 5), MP 2 mg/kg (n = 5), or control (n = 4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4022339807
07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with FSGS, Acthar produced a larger Vim expression fold change than methylprednisolone.
In plain wordsIn rats, Acthar changed Vim expression more than methylprednisolone.
Peptide
ACTH (corticotropin)
Outcome
Not applicableVim expression fold change
Study
Ratn = 10
Female Sprague-Dawley rats with puromycin-induced FSGS
Comparator
Methylprednisolone
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Kidney and urinary
Studied dose
60 IU/kg · 8 weeksAs given in this study (Rat).
Source sentences
Summary
A subset of these genes exhibited significantly larger fold changes in expression after treatment with Acthar versus MP, including C1qb and C1qc (complement cascade), Ccr2 and Tcrb (immune function), and Mfap4 and Vim (fibrosis).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We compared the effects of Acthar versus methylprednisolone (MP) on gene expression in the kidney cortex in a rat model of FSGS induced by puromycin. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks old) were treated for 8 weeks with Acthar 60 IU/kg (n = 5), MP 2 mg/kg (n = 5), or control (n = 4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4022339808
08AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with FSGS, Acthar significantly decreased expression of genes related to inflammation, immune function, and fibrosis versus control.
In plain wordsIn rats, Acthar reduced disease-related gene expression compared with control.
Peptide
ACTH (corticotropin)
Outcome
DecreaseInflammation, immune function, and fibrosis gene expression
Study
Ratn = 9
Female Sprague-Dawley rats with puromycin-induced FSGS
Comparator
Control
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Kidney and urinary
Studied dose
60 IU/kg · 8 weeksAs given in this study (Rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Compared with control, Acthar significantly decreased the expression of more genes related to inflammation, immune function, and fibrosis than MP.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We compared the effects of Acthar versus methylprednisolone (MP) on gene expression in the kidney cortex in a rat model of FSGS induced by puromycin. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks old) were treated for 8 weeks with Acthar 60 IU/kg (n = 5), MP 2 mg/kg (n = 5), or control (n = 4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4022339801

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
28 Oct 2026, 02:03 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
27 Oct 2026, 16:35 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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Keywords

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