To determine whether conversion from @entity205 (CsA) to @entity1140 ( @entity11636 )-based immunosuppressive therapy is safe and might lead to improvement in the clinical side effect profile we studied 55 cardiac allograft recipients. Ten stable @entity1 were electively converted (0.2-1.5 yr after transplantation; group I) and 45 @entity1 were converted on indication (0.5-14 yr after transplantation; group II). We studied blood pressure, @entity165 level and renal function in all @entity1 . To unravel the mechanisms by which @entity870 may exert its toxic effects and to evaluate whether conversion is associated with immune activation, we analyzed the @entity2533 system and intragraft @entity1199 and @entity8252 mRNA expression by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative flow cytometry in the selectively converted @entity1 (group I). Conversion did not result in immune activation as no clinical, histological or molecular signs of immune activation (increased intragraft @entity1199 and @entity8252 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression) leading to rejection were found. It did not improve renal function neither in @entity1 group I nor in @entity1 group II. However, after conversion the blood pressure decreased (group I: systolic 154+/-16 vs 143+/-21 mmHg, p=0.03, diastolic: 99+/-11 vs 90+/-11, p=0.02 and group II: systolic 155+/-17 vs 142+/-14, p<0.001, diastolic: 99+/-11 vs 91+/-8 mmHg, p<0.001). Likewise, the @entity165 levels improved (group I: 6.6+/-0.5 vs 5.7+/-0.3 mmol/L, p=0.001 and group II: 7.1+/-1.7 vs 6.1+/-1.7 mmol/L, p=0.001). When @entity1 were treated with TAC the ongoing rejections (n=4) resolved and gum @entity1373 disappeared (n=5). Conversion was associated with a two-fold lower TGF-beta 1 type I receptor expression on peripheral lymphocytes and monocytes (p=0.02 and p=0.002, respectively). Conversion from CsA to TAC results in improvement of blood pressure and @entity165 levels and does not induce immune activation. These beneficial effects were accompanied with lower TGF-beta 1 type I receptor expression.

Conversion from XXXX to @entity1140 is safe and decreases blood pressure, @entity165 levels and TGF-beta 1 type I receptor expression.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity870 :: ('CHEBI:55379', 'Chemical') :: ['CsA'] @entity1199 :: ('3558', 'Gene') :: ['IL-2', 'interleukin (IL)-2'] @entity1373 :: ('MESH:D006965', 'Disease') :: ['hyperplasia'] @entity205 :: ('MESH:D016572', 'Chemical') :: ['cyclosporin A'] @entity2533 :: ('7040', 'Gene') :: ['transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1'] @entity1140 :: ('MESH:D016559', 'Chemical') :: ['tacrolimus'] @entity11636 :: ('CHEBI:53498', 'Chemical') :: ['TAC'] @entity8252 :: ('3600', 'Gene') :: ['IL-15'] @entity165 :: ('MESH:D002784', 'Chemical') :: ['cholesterol']
@entity205 :: (MESH:D016572,Chemical) :: ['cyclosporin A']
