INTRODUCTION: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation is considered a key factor in the biological processes that trigger and accelerate atherosclerosis. Reported data suggest that tacrolimus improves the lipid profile in renal transplant recipients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of converting from cyclosporine to tacrolimus on lipoprotein oxidation in renal transplant recipients. METHODS: We studied a group of 12 recipients (6 men and 6 women of mean age 55 +/- 11 years) treated with a cyclosporine-mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-prednisone combination that was converted to tacrolimus-MMF-prednisone because of gingival hyperplasia. The LDL fraction was isolated by density-gradient ultracentrifugation. Oxidative stress was studied before converting (baseline) and at 6 and 12 weeks, thereafter by in vivo oxidation analysis of LDL, a direct assay of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and oxLDL autoantibodies (Ab-oxLDL) using enzyme-immunoassay techniques. We measured total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, ApoA1, ApoB, and Lp(a) levels. RESULTS: The change to tacrolimus resulted in significant decreases in TC levels, 213 +/- 30 (B) versus 185 +/- 27 (12s) (P < .01); LDL, 129 +/- 24 (B) versus 104 +/- 14 (12s) (P = .002); and ApoB 98 +/- 15 (B) versus 85 +/- 10 (12s) (P < .01). HDL levels significantly increased (45 +/- 10 vs 48 +/- 10 [12s]; P = .018), whereas oxLDL concentrations decreased significantly after conversion (B) (55.42 +/- 10.61 vs 12s 45.76 +/- 10.21; P < .01). Converting to tacrolimus produced a nonsignificant decrease in Ab-oxLDL (baseline 204.88 +/- 134.49 vs 12s 179.51 +/- 143.54). A correlation was observed between LDL and oxLDL (r = 65, P = .02 [B] and r = 0.7, P = .01 [12s]) but not between oxLDL levels and Ab-oxLDL concentration (r = -0.05, P = .87 [3] and r = -0.1, P = .77 [12s]). CONCLUSIONS: In renal transplantation, tacrolimus therapy was associated with a better lipid profile and lower in vivo LDL oxidation when compared with cyclosporine treatment.
INTRODUCTION: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation is considered a key factor in the biological processes that trigger and accelerate atherosclerosis. Reported data suggest that tacrolimus improves the lipid profile in renal transplant recipients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of converting from cyclosporine to tacrolimus on lipoprotein oxidation in renal transplant recipients. METHODS: We studied a group of 12 recipients (6 men and 6 women of mean age 55 +/- 11 years) treated with a cyclosporine-mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-prednisone combination that was converted to tacrolimus-MMF-prednisone because of gingival hyperplasia. The LDL fraction was isolated by density-gradient ultracentrifugation. Oxidative stress was studied before converting (baseline) and at 6 and 12 weeks, thereafter by in vivo oxidation analysis of LDL, a direct assay of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and oxLDL autoantibodies (Ab-oxLDL) using enzyme-immunoassay techniques. We measured total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, ApoA1, ApoB, and Lp(a) levels. RESULTS: The change to tacrolimus resulted in significant decreases in TC levels, 213 +/- 30 (B) versus 185 +/- 27 (12s) (P < .01); LDL, 129 +/- 24 (B) versus 104 +/- 14 (12s) (P = .002); and ApoB 98 +/- 15 (B) versus 85 +/- 10 (12s) (P < .01). HDL levels significantly increased (45 +/- 10 vs 48 +/- 10 [12s]; P = .018), whereas oxLDL concentrations decreased significantly after conversion (B) (55.42 +/- 10.61 vs 12s 45.76 +/- 10.21; P < .01). Converting to tacrolimus produced a nonsignificant decrease in Ab-oxLDL (baseline 204.88 +/- 134.49 vs 12s 179.51 +/- 143.54). A correlation was observed between LDL and oxLDL (r = 65, P = .02 [B] and r = 0.7, P = .01 [12s]) but not between oxLDL levels and Ab-oxLDL concentration (r = -0.05, P = .87 [3] and r = -0.1, P = .77 [12s]). CONCLUSIONS: In renal transplantation, tacrolimus therapy was associated with a better lipid profile and lower in vivo LDL oxidation when compared with cyclosporine treatment.
Authors: Elżbieta Kimak; Magdalena Hałabiś; Iwona Baranowicz-Gąszczyk; Janusz Solski; Andrzej Książek Journal: J Zhejiang Univ Sci B Date: 2011-05 Impact factor: 3.066