See the DrugPatentWatch profile for azacitidine

Azacitidine is a drug used to treat various forms of blood cancer and is also being studied for its potential to alter gene expression related to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) [1]. GVHD is a common complication that occurs after a stem cell transplant, where the transplanted cells attack the recipient's tissues [2].

Azacitidine works by inhibiting the activity of DNA methyltransferases, enzymes that add methyl groups to the DNA molecule, which can lead to the silencing of genes [3]. In the context of GVHD, azacitidine has been shown to alter the expression of genes involved in the immune response, specifically those that regulate the activity of T cells, which are the primary effector cells in GVHD [4].

A study published in the journal Blood found that azacitidine treatment in mice with GVHD led to a decrease in the expression of genes involved in T cell activation and an increase in the expression of genes involved in T cell apoptosis (programmed cell death) [4]. These findings suggest that azacitidine may be able to alter the course of GVHD by modulating the immune response and reducing tissue damage.

However, it is important to note that the use of azacitidine for GVHD is still in the experimental stage and more research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms of action and potential side effects [5].

In summary, azacitidine is a drug that can alter gene expression related to GVHD by inhibiting DNA methyltransferases and modulating the immune response. Further research is needed to determine its safety and efficacy for the treatment of GVHD.

Sources:

1. DrugPatentWatch.com. (n.d.). Azacitidine. Retrieved from <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/drugs/azacitidine>
2. National Cancer Institute. (2021, January 22). Graft-versus-host disease. Retrieved from <https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/graft-versus-host-disease>
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2021, December 15). Azacitidine. Retrieved from <https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Azacitidine>
4. Xue, L., Wang, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Wang, J., ... & Wang, Y. (2015). Azacitidine ameliorates graft-versus-host disease by inducing T cell apoptosis. Blood, 125(22), 3512-3522.
5. National Institutes of Health. (2021, October 21). Azacitidine. Retrieved from <https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00001248>