Combination of clopidogrel and everolimus dramatically reduced the development of transplant arteriosclerosis in murine aortic allografts.
Our group has shown that platelet inhibition with clopidogrel, an antagonist of the P2Y12 adenosine diphosphate receptor on platelets, reduced the formation of transplant arteriosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a combination of cyclosporin or everolimus with clopidogrel has a beneficial effect on the development of transplant arteriosclerosis. Fully MHC mismatched C57Bl/6 (H2(b)) donor aortas were transplanted into CBA.J (H2(k)) recipients and mice received either clopidogrel alone (1 mg/kg/day) or in combination with cyclosporin (2 mg/kg/day) or everolimus (0.05 mg/kg/day). Grafts were analysed by histology and morphometry on day 30 after transplantation. In mice treated with clopidogrel alone, transplant arteriosclerosis was significantly reduced [intima proliferation 56 +/- 11% vs. 81 +/- 7% (control)/n = 7]. Daily application of everolimus reduced the development of transplant arteriosclerosis compared with untreated controls [intima proliferation of 29 +/- 9% vs. 81 +/- 7% (control)/n = 7]. Strikingly, combination of clopidogrel and everolimus almost abolished the formation of transplant arteriosclerosis [intima proliferation: 11 +/- 8% vs. 81 +/- 7% (control)/n = 7]. By contrast, combination of cyclosporin and clopidogrel compared with clopidogrel alone showed no additive effect. These results demonstrate that combination of platelet- and mammalian target of Rapamycin-inhibition can dramatically reduce the development of transplant arteriosclerosis.
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
Sebastian
S
Eckl
Christian
C
Heim
Silke
S
Abele-Ohl
Julia
J
Hoffmann
Martina
M
Ramsperger-Gleixner
Michael
M
Weyand
Stephan M
SM
Ensminger
D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000637:transplantation*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000068338:Everolimus; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000068338:Everolimus; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; D020123:Sirolimus