title: Effect of sirolimus treatment on gene expression in renal transplant patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sirolimus (rapamycin), a strong immunosuppressive agent, is administered to renal transplant patients to prevent rejection. The rapamycin signaling pathway [mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)] has been implicated in transcriptional regulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used high-density oligonucleotide human microarrays to evaluate the effects of sirolimus treatment on gene expression in renal transplant patients. With this technique, we assessed selected genes in the rapamycin signaling, immunosuppression, insulin signaling, and triglyceride metabolism pathways.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Filtered data from both treated and untreated patients showed variability within each group. Significant fold changes were observed in genes from the immunosuppression and insulin signaling pathways but not the rapamycin signaling pathway. The triglyceride metabolism pathway revealed a significant reduction of message levels in lipoprotein and triglyceride synthesis genes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that using oligonucleotide microarrays to analyze the effects of sirolimus treatment in patients with renal transplant is an effective way to evaluate gene message levels in multiple pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Kasey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: Mini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kahan
authors.forename: Joel D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Morrisett
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007328:Insulin; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014280:Triglycerides; D020123:Sirolimus