Representative Publications
 
 
Stepkowski SM. Targeting of the fifth complement (C5) component to fight graft impairment after ischemia-reperfusion injury. 2008; 86:1351.
 
 
Stepkowski SM, Tian L, Wang ME, Napoli K, Kahan BD. Sirolimus in transplantation. Arch Immunol Ther Exp. 1997;45:383–90.
 
 
Wenderfer SE, Stepkowski SM, Braun MC. Increased survival and reduced renal injury in MRL/pr mice treated with a novel sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor agonist. Kidney Int 2008; 74:1319-20.
 
 
Stepkowski SM, Chen W, Ross JA, Nagy ZS, Kirken. Stat3: an important regulator of multiple cytokine functions. Transplantation 2008; 85: 1372-7.
 
 
Ross JA, Nagy ZS, Cheng H, Stepkowski SM, Kirken RA. Regulation of T cell homeostasis by Jaks and Stats. Arch Immunol Ther Exp 2007; 55:231-45.
 
 
Chen W, Diao J, Stepkowski SM, Zhang L. Both Infiltrating Regulatory T Cells and Insufficient Antigen Presentation Are Involved in Long-Term Cardiac Xenograft Survival. Journal of Immunology 179:1542-8, 2007.
 
  Razeghi P, Wang ME, Youker KA, Golfman L, Stepkowski S, Taegtmeyer H. Lack of NF-kappaB1 (p105/p150) attenuates unloading-induced downregulation of PPARalpha and PPARalpha-regulated gene expression in rodent heart. Cardiovasc Res. 2007; 74:133.
 
  Razeghi P, Volpini KC, Wang ME, Youker KA, Stepkowski S, Polonsky KS, Taegtmeyer H. Mechanical unloading of the heart activates the calpain system. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2007;42:449.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Kirken RA. Janus tyrosine kinases and signal transducers and activators of transcription regulate critical functions of T cells in allograft rejection and transplantation tolerance. Transplantation 2006;82(3):295–303.
 
  Nagy ZS, Rui H, Stepkowski SM, Karras J, Kirken RA. A referential role for STAT5, not constitutively active STAT3, in promoting survival of human lymphoid tumor. J Immunol. 2006;177:5032–40.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Phan T, Zhang H, Bilinski SZ, Kloc M, Yuhua Qi Y, Katz SM, Rutzky LP. Immature syngeneic dendritic cells (DC) potentiate tolerance to islet allografts depleted of passenger DC by culturing in bioreactors. Transplantation 2006;82:1756.
 
  Razeghi P, Baskin KK, Sharma S, Young ME, Stepkowski S, Faadiel Essop M, Taegtmeyer H. Atrophy, hypertrophy, and hypoxemia induce transcriptional regulators of the ubiquitin proteosome system on the rat heart. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006;342:361.
 
  Sharma S, Ying J, Razeghi P, Stepkowski SM, Taegtmeyer H. Atrophic remodeling of the transplanted rat heart. Cardiology 2006;105:128–36.
 
  Zhang Y, Kirken RA, Furian L, Janczewska S, Qu X, Hancock WW, Wang ME, Tejpal N, Kerman R, Kahan R, Stepkowski SM. Allograft rejection requires Stat5a/b-regulated anti-apoptotic activity in T but not in B cells. J Immunol. 2006;176:128–37.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Kao J, Wang ME, Tejpal N, Podder H, Furian L, Dimmock J, Jha A, Das U, Kahan BD, Kirken R. The Manniach base NC1153 promotes long-term allograft survival and spares the recipient from multiple toxicities. J Immunol. 2005;175:4236–46.
 
  Chen W, Langer RM, Janczewska S, Furian L, Geary R, Qu X, Wang M-E, Verani R, Condon T, Stecker K, Bennett CF, Stepkowski SM. Methoxyethyl-modified ICAM-1 antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides inhibit allograft rejection, ischemic/reperfusion injury, and cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity. Transplantation 2005;79:401–8.
 
  Nagy ZS, Ross J, Cheng H, Stepkowski SM. Regulation of lymphoid cell apoptosis by Jaks and Stats. Crit Rev Immunol. 2004;24:87–110.
 
  Bai S, Stepkowski SM, Kahan BD, Brunner LJ. Metabolic interaction between cyclosporine and sirolimus. Transplantation 2004;77(10):1507–12.
 
  Langer R, Wang M, Stepkowski SM, Hancock WW, Han R, Li P, Lili Feng, Kirken RA, Berens KL, Dupre B, Podder H, Dixon RAF, Kahan BD. Selection inhibitor Bisosiamose prolongs survival of kidney allografts by reduction in intragraft production of cytokines and chemokines. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2004;15:2893.
 
  Behbod F, Stepkowski SM, Karras J, Johnson CR, Jarvis WD, Kirken RA. Specific inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5a and 5b (Stat 5a/b) promotes apoptosis of IL2-responsive primary and tumor-derived lymphoid cells. J Immunol. 2003;76:1201–7.
 
  Razeghi P, Sharma S, Ying J, Li Y-P, Stepkowski SM, Reid M, Teagtmeyer H. Atrophic remodeling of the heart in vivo simultaneously activates pathways of protein synthesis and degradation. Circulation 2003;108:2536–41.
 
  Perez J, Stepkowski SM, Trawick B, Wang M-E, Janczewska S, Kahan BD. Selection of low immunogenic and highly tolerogenic donor/recipient allochimeric class I MHC proteins. Transplantation 2003;76:1201–7.
 
  Janczewska S, Wisniwski M, Stepkowski SM, Lukomska B. Fast hematopoietic recovery after bone marrow engraftment needs physiological proximity of stromal and stem cells. Cell Transplant. 2003;12:399–406.
 
  Rutzky LP, Bilinski S, Kloc M, Phan T, Zhang H, Katz SM, Stepkowski SM. Microgravity culture condition reduces immunogenicity and improves function of pancreatic islets1. Transplantation 2002;74(1):13–21.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Kirken RA, Trawick BW, Wang M, Tejpal N, Wang M-E, Tian L, Verani R, Kahan BD. Allochimeric class I MHC protein-induced tolerance by partial TCR engagement requires activation of both CTL4 and common g-chain-dependent cytokine signals. Transplantation 2002;73:1227–35.
 
  Nagy ZS, Wang Y, Erwin-Cohen RA, Aradi J, Monia B, Wang LH, Stepkowski SM, Rui H, Kirken RA. Interleukin-2 family cytokines stimulate phosphorylation of the Pro-Ser-Pro motif of Stat5 transcription factors in human T cells: resistance to suppression of multiple serine kinase pathway. J Leukoc Biol. 2002;72:819.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Erwin-Cohen RA, Behold F, Wang ME, Qu X, Tejpal N, Nagy ZS, Kahan BD, Kirken RA. A selective inhibitor of janus tyrosine kinase (Jak) 3, PNU156804, prolongs allograft survival and acts synergistically with cyclosporine but additively with rapamycin. Blood 2002;99:680–9.
 
  Bai S, Brunner LJ, Stepkowski SM, Napoli KL, Kahan BD. Effect of low dose Cyclosporine and sirolimus on hepatic drug metabolism in the rat. Transplantation 2001;71:1585–92.
 
  Behbod F, Erwin-Cohen RA, Wang ME, Trawick BM, Qu X, Verani R, Kahan BD, Stepkowski SM, Kirken RA. Concomitant inhibition of Janus kinase 3 and calcineurin-dependent signaling pathways synergistically prolongs the survival of rat heart allografts. J Immunol. 2001;166:3724–32.
 
  Doenst T, Goodwin GW, Cedars AM, Wang M, Stepkowski S, Taegtmeyer H. Load-induced changes in vivo alter substrate fluxes and insulin responsiveness of rat heart in vitro. Metabolism 2001;50:1083–90.
 
  Podder H, Stepkowski SM, Napoli KL, Clark J, Verani RR, Chou TC, Kahan BD. Pharmacokinetic interactions augments toxicities of sirolimus/cyclosporine combinations. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2001;12:1059–71.
 
  Young ME, Paul S, Ying J, Depre C, Ahuja HS, Shipley GL, Stepkowski SM, Davies PJ, Teagtmeyer H. Uncoupling protein 3 transcription is regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activation receptor (alpha) in the adult rodent heart. FASEB J. 2001;15:833–45.
 
  Stepkowski SM. Molecular targets for existing and novel immunosuppressive drugs. Expert Rev Mol Med. 2000;1:1–23.
 
  Brod SA, Katz A, Phan T, Stepkowski SM. Ingested interferon-alpha prevents allograft islet transplant rejection. Transplantation 2000;69:2162–6.
 
  Katz SM, Bennett CF, Stecker K, Clark JH, Phan T, Wang ME, Kahan BD, Stepkowski SM. ICAM-1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide improves both islet allograft survival and function. Cell Transplant. 2000;9:817.
 
  Yazawa K, Stepkowski SM, Wang M, Kahan BD. FTY720 blocks allograft rejection by homing of lymphocytes in vivo. Transpl Proc. 2000;32:269.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Qu X, Wang ME, Tian L, Chen W, Wancewicz EV, Johnston J, Bennett CF, Monia BP. Inhibition of C-raf expression by antisense oligonucleotides extends heart allograft survival in rats. Transplantation 2000;70:656.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Kirken RA. The role of IL-2 in allograft rejection-a lesson learned from experimental work. Transplantation 2000;69:2480–82.
 
  Okamoto M, Stepkowski MS, Wang M, Kahan BD. Use of allochimeric proteins to mitigate graft-versus-host and host-versus-graft immune responses to rat small bowel allografts. Transplantation 2000;70:1060–67.
 
  Akioka K, Kirken R, Wang M, Tian L, Stepkowski. SM, Kahan BD. Reduced expression of NF-AT and NF-kB transcription factors in tolerant recipients treated with tolerogenic allochimeric donor/recipient class I MHC protein. Transpl Proc 1999;31:2745.
 
  Chen W, Bennett CF, Wang ME, Dragun D, Tian L, Stecker K, Clark JH, Kahan BD, Stepkowski SM. Perfusion of kidneys with unformulated "naked" intercellular adhesion molecule-1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides prevents ischemic/reperfusion injury. Transplantation 1999;68:880–7.
 
  Troncoso P, Stepkowski SM, Wang M-E, Qu X, Chueh S-C, Clark J, Kahan BD. Prophylaxis of acute renal allograft rejection using FTY720 in combination with subtherapeutic doses of cyclosporine. Transplantation 1999;67:145.
 
  Tian L, Wang M, Stepkowski SM, Yu J, Kahan BD. Nucleotide sequences of three distinct complementary DNA clones encoding rat class II major histocompatibility complex RT1.D b chain proteins. Immunogenetics 1999;49:735–7.
 
  Perez J, Yu J, Stepkowski SM, Kahan BD. Immunization with E. coli-produced soluble MHC class I proteins induces accelerated rejection or prolonged survival of rat cardiac allografts. Transpl. Proc. 1999;31:1560.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Yu J, Wang M, Kahan BD. Induction of tolerance by oral administration of a tolerogenic allochimeric donor/recipient class I MHC protein. Transpl Proc. 1999;31:1517.
 
  Wang M, Yu J, Stepkowski SM, Kahan BD. Localization of immunogenic and tolerogenic epitopes in RT1.Al alloantigen. Transpl Proc. 1999;31:1517.
 
  Depre C, Shipley GL, Chen W, Han Q, Deenst T, Moore ML, Stepkowski SM, Davies PJA, Taegtmeyer H. The unloaded heart in vivo replicates the fetal gene expression of cardiac hypertrophy. Nat Med. 1998;4:1269.
 
  Boyle MJ, Baghdassarian V, Stepkowski SM, Dumble LJ, Kahan BD. Intrasplenic liver parenchymal cells in conjunction with low-dose rapamycin and cyclosporine induce a unique and specific prolongation of rat cardiac and small bowel allograft survival. Cell Transplant. 1998;7:247–56.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Wang ME, Condon TP, Cheng-Flournoy S, Stecker K, Graham M, Qu X, Tian L, Chen W, Kahan BD, Bennett CF. Protection against allograft rejection with intercellular adhesion molecule-1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides. Transplantation 1998;66:699–707.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Wang ME, Qu X, Yu J, Okamoto M, Tejpal N, Kahan BD. Synergistic interaction of FTY720 with cyclosporine or sirolimus to prolong heart allograft survival. Transpl Proc. 1998;30:2214–6.
 
  Stepkowski SM. Application of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides for organ transplantation. Transpl Proc. 1998;30:2142–5.
 
  Okamoto M, Stepkowski SM, Wang M, Kahan BD, Oka T. Inhibition of graft-versus-host responses by injection with recipient-type major histocompatibility class I heavy chain protein into donor thymus in rat small bowel transplantation. Transpl Proc. 1998;30(1):25-6.
 
  Napoli KL, Wang ME, Stepkowski SM, Kahan BD. Relative tissue distributions of cyclosporine and sirolimus after concomitant per oral administration to the rat: evidence for pharmacokinetic interactions. Ther Drug Monit. 1998;20:123–33.
 
  Wang M-E, Tejpal N, Qu X, Yu J, Okamoto M, Stepkowski SM, Kahan BD. Immunosuppressive effects of FTY720 alone or in combination with cyclosporine and/or sirolimus. Transplantation 1998;65:899–905.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Tian L, Napoli KL, Ghobrial R, Wang ME, Chou TC, Kahan BD. Synergistic mechanism by which sirolimus and cyclosporine inhibit rat heart and kidney allograft rejection. Clin Exp Immunol. 1997;108:63–8.
 
  Stepkowski SM, Tian L, Wang ME, Napoli K, Kahan BD. Sirolimus in transplantation. Arch Immunol Ther Exp. 1997;45:383–90.
 
  Bennett CF, Stepkowski SM. Genetic therapy for transplant vascular sclerosis. Transpl Immunol. 1997;5:299–302.