['The mevalonate pathway is important for the biosynthesis of isoprenoids such as geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP) and farnesylpyrophosphate, as well as cholesterol. It has been reported that treatment with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor ameliorates glomerular injury in several experimental models of progressive glomerular disease. However, the effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor on mesangial cell function has not been fully understood. This investigation was performed to elucidate the role of a mevalonate metabolite(s) in mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix accumulation.', 'Cycling or quiescent human mesangial cells were incubated in RPMI 1640 containing 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (FCS) in the absence or presence of pravastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, and mevalonate metabolites. Type IV collagen secretion, mRNA expression, and [3H]thymidine incorporation were measured. Cell cycle phases were monitored by flow cytometry.', 'Pravastatin inhibited FCS-stimulated type IV collagen secretion (IC50 = 210 microM) and mRNA expression. Pravastatin also inhibited FCS-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation (IC50 = 430 microM). Analysis with flow cytometry revealed that pravastatin inhibited the G1 to S phase transition of FCS-stimulated mesangial cells. Mevalonate reversed these inhibitory effects of pravastatin completely. Among two major metabolites of mevalonate, GGPP and farnesylpyrophosphate, only GGPP reversed pravastatin-induced inhibition of type IV collagen secretion, DNA synthesis, and the G1 to S phase progression.'] Do collagen secretion and growth of mesangial cells require geranylgeranylpyrophosphate?