Serum alpha-2-macroglobulin, antitrypsin and antichymotrypsin activities in patients receiving treatment with cyclosporine

Abstract

Cyclosporine has been reported to function as an inhibitor of the chymotrypsin like activity of proteasome. We hypothesized that the administration of an exogenous proteinase inhibitor may affect the activities of the Serum antiproteinase activities of serum alpha 2 macroglobulin (AMG), alpha 1-antitrypsin (AT) and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) were found to be altered in renal transplant patients receiving cyclosporine. KEY WORDS Alpha-2-macroglobulin,alpha-1-antitrypsin,alpha antichymotrypsin,C2, cyclosporine. Address for Correspondence:Dr.Pragna Rao Kamineni Hospitals Ltd. L.B.Nagar,Hyderabad -500 068 Andhra Pradesh -INDIA E-mail : mnaprag@sancharnet.in We hypothesized that cyclosporine treatment would alter the activities of the naturally occurring anti -proteinases in blood , since cyclosporine would act as an exogenous source of anti -proteinase activity. We selected alpha 2 macroglobulin (AMG), alpha 1-antitrypsin (AT) and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) as representatives of the major anti -proteinases in the blood.The effect that cyclosporine has on serum activities of AT, ACT and AMG are presented for the first time in this study. The serum proteinase inhibitory activities were monitored in a few patients who were initially put on cyclosporine therapy immediately after a renal transplant and followed up over a period of 4 weeks as the cyclosporine dose was tapered. The study also evaluated whether the dose of cyclosporine and the measured blood levels of cyclosporine as evidenced by C0 (trough) and C2 (2 hour post dose values) affected serum proteinase inhibitor levels.

Immunosuppressive Drugs Alter α1-Antitrypsin Production in Hepatocytes: Implications for Epithelial Gap Repair

“…Several studies have shown that hepatic production of AAT is affected by several relevant drugs. CSA reduces AAT production in kidney transplantation [21]. Corticosteroids abrogate the inflammatory trigger required for AAT expression, with the exception of a narrow range of low-dose dexamethasone (DEX) that, much like cortisol, induces AAT expression [22].…”