Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B and macrophage invasion in cyclosporin A- and tacrolimus-treated renal transplants

: This retrospective study was designed to compare the efficacy of cyclosporin A (CyA) and tacrolimus (FK506) on chronic rejection (CR) associated with nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) activation and macrophage invasion. Non‐episodic day 50 protocol renal biopsy was performed in 63 consecutive patients with renal transplants from living donors, treated with either CyA or FK506. Southwestern histochemistry for NF‐κB, immunostaining for CD68, and Banff classification were performed, and these findings were compared with outcome over 34 ± 13 months. Compared with specimens from FK506‐treated patients (n = 20), specimens from CyA‐treated patients (n = 43) showed a significant increase in tubulointerstitial CD68‐positive cells (1.5 ± 0.9 vs. 0.9 ± 0.8, p