The percentage of phagocytosis by monocytes from healthy controls was not changed in the presence of tacrolimus or MPA.

(A) Monocytes were selected from the leukocyte population by a forward and side scatter. Analysis was based on the phagocytosis of the FITC-labeled bacteria. Incubation with FITC-labeled bacteria on 37°C showed a high percentage of phagocytosing monocytes (positive control) compared to monocytes on 0°C (negative control). (B) Mean percentage of phagocytosing monocytes after spiking with either vehicle, 10 ng/ml tacrolimus, 50 ng/ml tacrolimus, 200 ng/ml tacrolimus or 10 μg/ml MPA. Incubation at 37°C increased the percentage of phagocytosing monocytes by more than 90%. Effects of tacrolimus and MPA on phagocytosis were determined as the percentage of phagocytosing monocytes compared to the positive control without immunosuppressive drugs. (Data are plotted as the mean ±SEM; n = 4).