Assessment of immunosuppressive therapies with a metabolomic approach

• Grant number: 11/18193-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal researcher: Marina Franco Maggi Tavares
• Grantee: Pedro Luís Rocha da Cruz
• Home Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The improvement of analytical techniques enabled the emergence of metabolomics, a field of science that assesses the metabolites involved in the biochemical pathways.Metabolomics began after the "Genomic Era", which is characterized by intensive sequencing of various organisms and allowed the identification of several genes, giving insights in the study of gene expression and function. Soon after, the interest of researchers focused on the study of metabolites.Various analytical techniques can be used, such as nuclear magnetic resonance and capillary electrophoresis, liquid chromatography or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry depending on the class of metabolites.Among the various applications, metabolomics can be a valuable tool in the study of kidney transplant. There is little research in this area, and these studies deal with rejection, damage in ischemia/reperfusion, delayed graft function and nephrotoxicity of immunosuppressive drugs.The use of immunosuppressive agents is essential for transplantation. However, long term use of these drugs can damage the kidneys.Currently, to mitigate these factors, a combination of three drugs is taken. In the present study, in conjunction with researchers at the Hospital do Rim e Hipertensão, in São Paulo, a metabolomic analysis of urine from patients is in progress. The objective of this project is to identify, using metabolomics, the changes and metabolic differences between two regimens of immunosuppressive drugs: tacrolimus, prednisone and everolimus (Group A) and tacrolimus, prednisone and mycophenolate (Group B) and identify which therapies have less nephrotoxic and lower rejection rate effect.