🍽️ Rapamycin

Immunosuppression: Rapamycin is primarily used as an immunosuppressant medication to prevent rejection in organ transplantation, particularly kidney transplantation. It inhibits the activity of T lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell involved in the immune response, thereby reducing the risk of rejection.

Anti-proliferative Properties: Rapamycin has anti-proliferative properties, meaning it inhibits the growth and proliferation of cells. This property is exploited in the treatment of certain cancers, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

Coronary Stent Coating: Rapamycin is also used in drug-eluting stents (DES) deployed during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures to prevent restenosis, the re-narrowing of arteries after stent placement. The drug-coated stents release rapamycin locally to inhibit the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the arterial wall.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM): Rapamycin has shown efficacy in the treatment of lymphangioleiomyomatosis, a rare lung disease characterized by the abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the lung tissue. It helps to stabilize lung function and reduce symptoms in patients with LAM.

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC): Rapamycin is also used in the treatment of tuberous sclerosis complex, a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of benign tumors in various organs, including the brain, kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. It can reduce the size of tumors associated with TSC and improve symptoms.

Sirolimus-eluting Devices: Apart from drug-eluting stents, sirolimus has been incorporated into other medical devices, such as drug-eluting balloons and drug-eluting implants, for various applications in interventional cardiology and other fields.

Potential Anti-aging Effects: Rapamycin has been investigated for its potential anti-aging effects in preclinical studies. Some research suggests that rapamycin may extend lifespan and delay the onset of age-related diseases in certain model organisms, although further studies are needed to determine its safety and efficacy for anti-aging purposes in humans.

Side Effects: Common side effects of rapamycin include immunosuppression-related complications such as increased susceptibility to infections, as well as metabolic disturbances, gastrointestinal symptoms, skin reactions, and potential adverse effects on renal function and lipid metabolism. Patients receiving rapamycin therapy require close monitoring for these side effects.

Drug Interactions: Rapamycin may interact with other medications, particularly those metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system, potentially leading to altered drug concentrations and effects. Patients should inform their healthcare providers about all medications, supplements, and herbal products they are taking to minimize the risk of drug interactions.