title: Serum markers of apoptosis in the early period of heart transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between levels of serum markers of apoptosis and rejection grades in heart transplant (HTx).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted in 91 HTx. We correlated apoptosis markers and biopsy samples. The apoptosis markers were: TRAIL, TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2, TRAIL-R3, TRAIL-R4, sFas, sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The only significant correlation with rejection grade was sFas (r=0.329; p=0.005). Cyclosporine showed a proapoptotic effect (sTNF-R1 0.02 and sTNF-R2 0.02) and everolimus an antiapoptotic effect (sTNF-R1 r= -0.523; p=0.0001 and sTNF-R2 r= -0.405; p=0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The utility of specific apoptosis markers in peripheral blood for diagnosis of acute cellular rejection is low. Everolimus may have an anti-apoptotic effect.
authors.affiliation: Heart Failure and Transplantation Unit, Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, Valencia, Spain. ignaciosanchezlazaro@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ignacio J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Lázaro
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Almenar-Bonet
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero-Pelechano
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Portoles-Sanz
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez-Dolz
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roselló-Lleti
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramón González-Juanatey
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivera-Otero
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvador-Sanz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers