Dyslipidemia in human kidney transplant recipients receiving cyclosporine and tacrolimus is associated with different expression of CD36 on peripheral blood monocytes

Purpose: We studied the mechanisms by which immunosuppressants result, in dyslipidemia among human kidney transplant recipients.

Methods: Seventy-five living donor kidney transplant recipients were enrolled in our study with informed consent and the approval of out Institutional Ethics Committee. Each donor-recipient pair were relatives, there were no prisoners. The serum lipid profile, the expression of CD36 on peripheral blood monocytes, and the whole blood concentrations of cyclosporine (CsA) or tacrolimus (FK506) were determined at various times after transplantation.

Results: CsA significantly increased serum lipid concentrations. The CsA concentration correlated positively with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels, whereas FK506 showed no significant effect on serum lipid level. There was a positive correlation between the CsA concentrations and the expression of CD36; FK507 showed no significant effect on CD36 expression.

Conclusions: Hyperlipidemia in kidney transplant recipients treated with CsA was associated with overexpression of CD36 on peripheral blood monocytes.