The Effect of Tacrolimus and Mycophenolic Acid on CD14+ Monocyte Activation and Function.

ABSTRACT: Monocytes and macrophages play key roles in many disease states, including cellular and humoral rejection after solid organ transplantation (SOT). To suppress alloimmunity after SOT, immunosuppressive drug therapy is necessary. However, little is known about the effects of the immunosuppressive drugs tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid (MPA) on monocyte activation and function. Here, the effect of these immunosuppressants on monocytes was investigated by measuring phosphorylation of three intracellular signaling proteins which all have a major role in monocyte function: p38MAPK, ERK and Akt. In addition, biological functions downstream of these signaling pathways were studied, including cytokine production, phagocytosis and differentiation into macrophages. To this end, blood samples from hea

SUBMITTER: Kannegieter NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5266297 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature