The cGMP-cGMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase G) system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. However, the molecular mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of the cGMP-protein kinase G system in the cell cycle progression of mesangial cells are not well known. To determine the inhibitory pathway of cGMP-protein kinase G in cultured mesangial cells, we investigated the effects of cGMP- and adenovirus-mediated overexpression of protein kinase G on the promoter activities of cyclin E, cyclin D1, and cyclin A. 8-Bromo-cGMP (8-BrcGMP) and overexpression of protein kinase G reduced [³H]thymidine uptake, reduced the numbers of cells in S and G₂/M phases, and decreased the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. 8-BrcGMP (10³ M), protein kinase G adenovirus (Ad-cGKI; 10¹⁰ plaque-forming units/ml), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) inhibited the promoter activity of cyclin E to 49, 57, 77, and 78%, respectively. On the other hand, the promoter activities of cyclin D1 and cyclin A were not changed significantly. In Western blot analysis, 8-BrcGMP, Ad-cGKI, ANP, and CNP also inhibited cyclin E protein expression dose and time dependently. The p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 1-p44/p42 MAPK had no effect on cyclin E promoter activities, and the cGMP-protein kinase G pathway did not change MAPK activity. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the reduction of the cyclin E promoter activity that downregulates G₁/S transition plays a dominant role in the cGMP- and protein kinase G-induced inhibition of mesangial cell proliferation.