Introduction of everolimus with CNI reduction offers a significant improvement in renal function in maintenance heart and lung transplant recipients. The greatest benefit is observed in patients with a shorter time since transplantation.
Background/Objectives: The hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF) is chronic lung inflammation. The severity of lung disease is closely correlated with immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels. Beyond its contribution to the bone health, the importance of vitamin D has not been fully recognized owing to the lack of human studies providing evidence of its benefit. In the context of the recently described immunomodulatory functions of vitamin D, we aimed to assess the relationship between vitamin D and IgG levels. Subjects/Methods: Eight hundred and ninety-six CF patients were included (0.53-65.9 years) from seven centers in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and total IgG were measured, spirometry was carried out and vitamin D intake data were gathered using a 7-day dietary food record. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed for IgG and forced expiratory volume in 1ls (FEV1) as dependent variables, and serum 25OHD, daily food and supplemented vitamin D sources of intake as independent variables. The model was controlled for age, gender, genotype, CF-related diabetes, season, infection/colonization status, long-term oral corticosteroid treatment, long-term treatment with macrolide antibiotics, pancreatic insufficient phenotype and body mass index z-score. Results: Serum total IgG levels were negatively associated with serum 25OHD (adjusted R 2 ¼ 0.376; beta ¼ À0.02; Po0.001), supplemented vitamin D intake per kg bodyweight (adjusted R 2 ¼ 0.375; beta ¼ À0.82; Po0.001) and total vitamin D intake per kg bodyweight (adjusted R 2 ¼ 0.398; beta ¼ À0.60; P ¼ 0.002). Serum 25OHD was positively associated with FEV1 (adjusted R 2 ¼ 0.308; beta ¼ 0.0007; P ¼ 0.025). Conclusions: Increasing vitamin D intake may positively modulate inflammation in CF. This study supports the proposed role of vitamin D in the immune system during infection and substantiates prospective studies.
Converting maintenance thoracic transplant recipients to everolimus with low-exposure CNI results in a renal benefit that is sustained to 2 years postconversion, with significantly improved measured glomerular filtration rate in both heart and lung transplant patients. Despite reductions of more than 50% in CNI exposure, there was no marked loss of efficacy. The safety profile of the everolimus-based regimen was acceptable.
Glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone released as a bioactive peptide from intestinal L-cells in response to eating. It acts on target cells and exerts several functions as stimulating insulin and inhibiting glucagon. It is quickly deactivated by the serine protease dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) as an important regulatory mechanism. GLP-1 analogues are used as antidiabetic drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes. We served patients with cystic fibrosis (CF, n=29), cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD, n=19) and healthy controls (n=18) a standardized breakfast (23 g protein, 25 g fat and 76 g carbohydrates) after an overnight fasting. Blood samples were collected before meal as well as 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after the meal in tubes prefilled with a DPP-IV inhibitor. The aim of the study was to compare levels of GLP-1 in patients with CF, CFRD and in healthy controls. We found that active GLP-1 was significantly decreased in patients with CF and CFRD compared to in healthy controls (p<0.01). However, levels in patients with CFRD tended to be lower but were not significantly lower than in patients with CF without diabetes (p=0.06). Total GLP-1 did not differ between the groups, which points to that the inactive form of GLP-1 is more pronounced in CF patients. The endogenous insulin production (measured by C-peptide) was significantly lower in patients with CFRD as expected. However, levels in non-diabetic CF patients did not differ from the controls. We suggest that the decreased levels of GLP-1 could affect the progression toward CFRD and that more studies need to be performed in order to evaluate a possible treatment with GLP-1 analogues in CF-patients.
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