In addition to hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and smoking, as well as other non-traditional risk factors such as elevated C-reactive protein, homocysteine, Lp(a), or reduced renal function, depletion of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in the peripheral circulation may represent another important explanation for the excess cardiovascular morbidity of kidney transplant recipients. In this context, the potential association of immunosuppressive therapy with EPCs in kidney transplant recipients deserves special consideration. The use of tacrolimus associated with a more favorable cardiovascular risk factors profile in terms of improved blood pressure and lipid levels in kidney transplant recipients compared to cyclosporine users. Therefore, one can speculate whether tacrolimus users might have greater EPC counts compared to patients treated with cyclosporine.

In a pilot study we cross-sectionally studied EPC counts in 90 stable, middle-aged kidney transplant recipients. From multivariate analyses, we found a independent inverse association between EPC counts and body mass index and systolic blood pressure. Statin use was associated with greater EPC counts, while patients receiving azathioprine had lower EPC counts. These findings raised the hypothesis whether EPCs are responsible, at least in part, for the well-established association between these factors and cardiovascular outcomes.

Cystatin C is superior to serum creatinine as a marker of kidney function since cystatin C is a more sensitive marker than serum creatine for small changes in GFR. Until now, there are no available data on the change of cystatin C as a measure of graft function after conversion of a cyclosporine based immunosuppressive regimen to tacrolimus.

There is accumulating evidence for an important pathogenetic role of donor-reactive antibodies in kidney allograft rejection. Recent studies suggest an anti-humoral activity of tacrolimus in the setting of chronic rejection. Recent findings suggest that in patients who are on cyclosporine, tacrolimus rescue therapy could efficiently inhibit antibody formation.

Objective 1: To evaluate the change in endothelial Progenitor cell (EPC) count in kidney graft recipients converted from cyclosporine to tacrolimus.

Objective 2: To evaluate the change in cystatin C as a measure of renal function in kidney graft recipients converted from cyclosporine to tacrolimus.

Objective 3: To determine the effect of tacrolimus on humoral alloreactivity in kidney graft recipients Study design: A 2:1 randomized, parallel group, open-label, prospective trial comparing two different immunosuppressive regimens in approximately 148 patients. Group A: Convert to tacrolimus in combination with/without MMF and/or steroids. Group B: Maintain cyclosporine in combination with/without MMF and/or steroids. Patients will be followed up for 24 months after conversion.

In an amendment (August 2006) we registered pharmacogenetical analyses of the multi-drug resistance transporter 1 (MDR1) gene (gene symbol: ABCB1). The patients´ DNA is extracted from peripheral venous blood using the QIAamp DSP DNA Blood Mini Kit (Qiagen). Two ABCB1 gene sections are amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mutations are determined by restriction enzymes (restriction fragment length polymorphisms, RFLP).