title: Effects of tacrolimus hydrate (FK-506) on the expression of tissue factor in THP-1 human monocyte cell line.
abstract: Accelerated coronary atherosclerosis in cardiac allografts is a major factor limiting survival after heart transplantation, and activation of the coagulation system contributes to accelerated transplant atherosclerosis. Accordingly, increased tissue factor (TF) expression by monocyte/macrophages may play a pivotal role underlying deposition of fibrin in the affected vessels. To evaluate the potential effects of an important immunosuppressive agent, tacrolimus hydrate (FK-506), on monocyte/macrophages and their response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we exposed human monocyte/macrophage cell line (THP-1 cells), to LPS and characterized its procoagulant activity (PCA). FK-506 exerted a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on LPS (10 micrograms/ml) induction of procoagulant activity, identified as TF activity as judged from immunostaining of TF antigen and by functional characterization with the use of coagulation factor VII-deficient plasma and an antibody against human TF. In addition, the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction demonstrated reduced expression of TF mRNA in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells exposed to FK-506. Thus, FK-506 acts favorably not only as a direct immunomodulating agent but also as an alleviator of local activation of the coagulation cascade contributing to transplant arteriopathy through modulation of monocyte expression of TF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Zaman
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006085:Graft Survival; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D013925:Thromboplastin; D016559:Tacrolimus