Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: DrugBank:BIOD00082 (IL-2)
 29,198 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

It is well recognized that FK506 (Tacrolimus) is a powerful inhibitor of CD4+ T-cell activation and proliferation in vitro. In this study, immunophenotypic and functional analyses were performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a total of 30 patients with various autoimmune disorders before and whilst the patients were receiving systemic FK506 therapy. The expression of cell surface IL-2R alpha and -beta on CD4+ and CD8+ cells, cytokine message (IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-10) and the proliferative activity of lymphocytes in response to rIL-2 were examined. Despite plasma levels of FK506 compatible with the blockade of IL-2 production by stimulated T cells in vitro, cells from patients on FK506 treatment cultured ex vivo with either ConA or IL-2 did not differ from normal cells in their expression of cytokine mRNA or their proliferative responses. These data indicate that the presumed in vivo suppression of T-cell function by FK506 is rapidly reversible ex vivo. Alternatively/additionally, they suggest that FK506 may mediate its in vivo action primarily by mechanisms other than blockade of T-cell function.
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PMID:Blood lymphocytes of autoimmune disease patients receiving FK506 exhibit normal ex vivo cytokine gene expression and proliferative responses. 751 Feb 65

Tacrolimus(FK506) is a strong immuno-suppressant and shows its activity through inhibiting IL-2 mRNA transcription by forming pentameric complex with intracellular receptor(FK506 binding protein 12 kDa or FKBP12), Ca2+, calmodulin, and calcineurin. Here, we report the binding activity to FKBP12, the pentameric complex formation and Con-A response inhibiting activities of 7 metabolites. C15-demethylated metabolite(M-3) needed higher quantity to compete in Con-A assay and in pentamer formation assay, although it binds more strongly to FKBP12. The result suggests that the ability to form a pentameric complex is not a two step reaction with the first binding to FKBP12, but a single step reaction by components for the pentamer formation.
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PMID:Interaction of tacrolimus(FK506) and its metabolites with FKBP and calcineurin. 751 78

Although it is well known that cellular rejection is mediated by alloreactive lymphocytes, several investigators, including our group, have shown that such cells are a rather small proportion of the T cell infiltrate of the alolograft. We have therefore postulated that graft-infiltrating lymphocytes must recognize other antigens. Since heat shock protein (hsp)-specific lymphocytes have been shown to participate in several autoimmune diseases and in tumor immunity, we hypothesized that hsp-reactive lymphocytes are involved with allograft rejection. This hypothesis was tested with a rat model of heterotopic MHC-incompatible cardiac allografts (ACI into Lewis), whereby graft-infiltrating lymphocytes and spleen cells were tested in vitro with different recombinant mycobacterial hsp preparations. As expected, allograft lymphocytes showed proliferative responses to irradiated spleen cells from the donor. This proliferation was markedly augmented by hsp65 (3-fold) and hsp70 (5-fold), whereas hsp10 and the protein control ovalbumin had no effect. Proliferation of allograft lymphocytes to hsp in context with syngeneic splenocytes as antigen-presenting cells (APC) was seen primarily if small quantities of IL-2 had been added to the cultures. In contrast, hsp-specific proliferation was never observed with syngraft lymphocytes, even after addition of IL-2. Spleen cells from allograft and syngraft recipients showed hsp augmentation of alloproliferation, but the magnitude was less than that with allograft lymphocytes. Kinetic studies showed that hsp-reactive lymphocytes first appeared in the allograft on day 3 posttransplant. Tacrolimus immunosuppression of transplant rejection prevented the appearance of hsp-reactive lymphocytes in allografts. Culture conditions have been established to generate hsp65- and hsp70-specific T lymphocyte lines and clones from allograft-infiltrating cells. These cultured cells exhibited hsp reactivity only in context with self-APC, and this was augmented by small amounts of IL-2. These data provide strong evidence for the involvement of hsp-reactive lymphocytes in allograft rejection. We propose the concept that during rejection tissue stress induced by alloreactive effector lymphocytes promotes the recruitment and activation of hsp-reactive lymphocytes, especially in the presence of IL-2 released into the allogeneic environment of the transplant. These hsp-reactive T cells may play a role in the immune cascade of the inflammatory process of transplant rejection.
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PMID:Heat shock protein reactivity of lymphocytes isolated from heterotopic rat cardiac allografts. 787 64

FK-506 (Tacrolimus) has been shown to block T cell proliferation in vitro by inhibiting the generation of several lymphokines, especially interleukin (IL)-2, but little direct evidence is available to support the view that the immunosuppressive effects of FK-506 in vivo are mediated by a similar inhibition of lymphokine cascade. To investigate the mechanisms of FK-506-induced immunosuppression, the effects of FK-506 on cell-mediated immunity to Hymenolepis nana were examined in mice. FK-506 administration into BALB/c mice daily at a dose of 10.0 mg/kg (but not 5.0 mg/kg) for 5 days caused suppression of protective immunity against H. nana challenge infection. During the infection of mice with H. nana, IL-2 and interferon (IFN)-gama were produced by mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells with a time course corresponding to that of MLN T cell proliferation. These responses were completely suppressed by repeated administration of FK-506 for 5 days at a dose of 10.0 mg/kg/day (but not 5.0 mg/kg/day). In contrast to the effects of FK-506 on IL-2 and IFN-gamma productions in MLN, IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the intestinal wall, which were enhanced by H. nana infection, were not completely decreased as a result of 10.0 mg/kg FK-506 treatment. The reverse transcriptase-PCR revealed complete inhibition of IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression on mesenteric L3T4+ cells that were induced by H. nana infection, when mice were given 10.0 mg/kg/day FK-506 for 5 days. These results strongly suggest that FK-506 affects cell-mediated immunity in vivo with mechanisms similar to those observed in vitro.
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PMID:Mode of action of FK-506 on protective immunity to Hymenolepis nana in mice. 898 61

Tacrolimus hydrate (FK506), a novel 23-membered macrolide, is an immunosuppressant isolated from Streptomyces tsukubaensis using extensive screening of fermentation products to identify a compound inhibiting the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). The in vitro and in vivo immunosuppressive activities of FK506 were found to be more potent than those of cyclosporine (CyA). The superior immunosuppression with FK506 treatment was also confirmed in the skin allograft model in rats and liver transplantation in dogs. Clinical studies were initiated by Prof. Starzl at the University of Pittsburgh in 1989, and he demonstrated that FK506 surpassed CyA in the incidence of graft survival and the frequency of graft rejection. Multicenter randomized clinical studies, comparing FK506 to CyA corroborated the efficacy of FK506 on the survival of patients and of grafts, and especially on the appearance of severe refractory graft rejection. FK506 was marketed in 1993 in Japan, and was followed in 1994 in the U.S.A., U.K. and Germany. The mechanism of action of this compound was clarified by the endeavors of Prof. Schreiber, who demonstrated the existence of a binding protein for FK506 called FKBP, similar to cyclophilin for CyA. The FK506/FKBP complex binds with calcineurin, a serine/threonine phosphatase to inhibit the translocation of NFAT into the nucleus, resulting in inhibition of transcription of IL-2 mRNA. FK506 displays potent immunosuppressant activity, and contributes not only to the progress of transplantation therapy for clinical studies, but also to the clarification of signal transduction in T cell activation for basic science.
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PMID:[Discovery and development of a novel immunosuppressant, tacrolimus hydrate]. 930 28

Microbial products have amazing diversity and complexity in their chemical structures as well as in their biological activities. The successful discovery and development of FK506 (Tacrolimus) adds a new example showing that microbial products are agents with potential therapeutic benefits. In 1984, we found a novel immunosuppressant FK506 during the course of our research program for discovery of specific inhibitors on IL-2 production in the microbial products. FK506, a new class of 23-membered macrolide lactone, was isolated the fermentation broth of Streptomyces tsukubaensis No.9993. This agent strongly inhibited the proliferative response of lymphocytes to alloantigen stimulation, and a variety of T cell associated immune reaction. FK506 also suppressed immune responses in vivo as well as in vitro and this immunosuppressive effect was more highly potent than cyclosporin, a well-known fungal metabolite. The profound immunosuppressive properties of FK506 were subsequently explored in organ transplantation in animal models. Clinical trials of FK506 were begun in 1989 by Professor Stazl and his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh. Since then wider evaluation of FK506 in a variety of transplantation fields has been performed globally; in North America, Europe and Japan. In 1993, FK506 was commercialized in Japan for prevention of liver transplant rejection. FK506 is also undergoing extensive evaluation as an agent for the treatment of various autoimmune diseases.
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PMID:[Immunosuppressive activity of a microbial product]. 950 9

Tacrolimus (FK506) is a macrolide lactone with potent immunosuppressive activity 100 times that of cyclosporine by weight. The molecular mechanism of action is mediated via an inhibition of the phosphorylase activity of calcineurin by drug-immunophilin complex, resulting in the inhibition of IL-2 gene expression. There are emerging studies now showing significant efficacy of tacrolimus in GVHD prevention in both related and unrelated donor transplantation. Three multicenter randomized studies comparing tacrolimus to cyclosporine have been completed, one each in related and unrelated donor transplantation; the remaining study involved both related and unrelated donor transplantation. All three studies showed a significantly lower incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD in patients who received tacrolimus. One study in sibling donor transplantation showed that patients with advanced disease who received tacrolimus had a poorer survival than patients who received cyclosporine, but the survival was similar in patients with non-advanced disease. The remaining two studies, one in unrelated donors and the other combining both related and unrelated donors did not show any survival difference between the tacrolimus and cyclosporine groups. In addition, this review also highlights some of the critical questions regarding the role of this agent in allogeneic stem cell transplantation: (1) the contribution of methotrexate in combination with tacrolimus; (2) the starting i.v. dose of tacrolimus; (3) the suggested whole blood level of tacrolimus and its effect on nephrotoxicity; and (4) whether tacrolimus should be used in patients with advanced malignancy. Future studies using tacrolimus in combination with other immunosuppressants, and its use in patients with advanced malignancy will be warranted.
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PMID:Tacrolimus: a new agent for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. 972 Jul 34

Although tacrolimus has been studied in a wide variety of experimental animal models, we are the first group to systematically study the effect of tacrolimus on rat renal allograft survival, as primary therapy and as anti-rejection therapy, in comparison with cyclosporin A (CyA). Renal grafts were transplanted from BN to LEW rats. Tacrolimus and CyA were administrated orally from day 0 for 50 days as primary therapy after grafting. Allografts were rejected after a median survival time (MST) of 8 days. Both tacrolimus und CyA significantly prolonged renal allograft survival, in a dose-dependent manner compared with the allograft controls. The most effective dose was 3.2 mg/kg, per day for tacrolimus, and 10 mg/kg per day for CyA. There was no significant difference in renal function between the group treated with the most effective dose of tacrolimus and the CyA-treated group. The percentage of detectable serum IL-2 level was 45% in the allograft control group, but was undetectable in groups treated with the most effective dose of tacrolimus or CyA at days 3 and 6 after grafting. On the other hand, no side effects were noted in recipient rats by daily inspection, body weight change, and histological studies, although minimal tubular vacuolation was encountered in the group treated with CyA 32 mg/kg per day. In addition, the most effective doses of tacrolimus and CyA were studied as anti-rejection therapy. All of the 5 recipients treated with tacrolimus from days 2-14, and 3 of the 5 treated from days 4-16 after grafting, survived for more than 50 days. However, the MST was 19 days for recipients treated with CyA from days 2-14, and 13 days for those treated from days 4-16 after grafting. In summary, tacrolimus as primary therapy induced rat renal allograft survival with renal function and side effects comparable with those of CyA. Interestingly, when both agents were used as anti-rejection therapy, tacrolimus, but not CyA, could significantly overcome ongoing renal allograft rejection in the rat.
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PMID:Tacrolimus versus cyclosporin A: a comparative study on rat renal allograft survival. 1036 90

During the past 50 years, many immunosuppressive drugs have been described. Often their mechanisms of action were established long after their discovery. Eventually these mechanisms were found to fall into five groups: (i) regulators of gene expression; (ii) alkylating agents; (iii) inhibitors of de novo purine synthesis; (iv) inhibitors of de novo pyrimidine synthesis; and (v) inhibitors of kinases and phosphatases. Glucocorticoids exert immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activity mainly by inhibiting the expression of genes for interleukin-2 and other mediators. Cyclophosphamide metabolites alkylate DNA bases and preferentially suppress immune responses mediated by B-lymphocytes. Methotrexate and its polyglutamate derivatives suppress inflammatory responses through release of adenosine; they suppress immune responses by inducing the apoptosis of activated T-lymphocytes and inhibiting the synthesis of both purines and pyrimidines. Azathioprine metabolites inhibit several enzymes of purine synthesis. Mycophenolic acid and mizoribine inhibit inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, thereby depleting guanosine nucleotides. Mycophenolic acid induces apoptosis of activated T-lymphocytes. A leflunomide metabolite and Brequinar inhibit dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, thereby suppressing pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. Cyclosporine and FK-506 (Tacrolimus) inhibit the phosphatase activity of calcineurin, thereby suppressing the production of IL-2 and other cytokines. In addition, these compounds have recently been found to block the JNK and p38 signaling pathways triggered by antigen recognition in T-cells. In contrast, rapamycin inhibits kinases required for cell cycling and responses to IL-2. Rapamycin also induces apoptosis of activated T-lymphocytes. Immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory compounds in development include inhibitors of p38 kinase and of the type IV isoform of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase which is expressed in lymphocytes and monocytes.A promising future application of immunosuppressive drugs is their use in a regime to induce tolerance to allografts. The role of leukocytes in grafts, and the induction of apoptosis of clones of responding T-lymphocytes, is discussed.
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PMID:Immunosuppressive drugs: the first 50 years and a glance forward. 1087 84

Tacrolimus (FK-506) and cyclosporin A (CsA) are calcineurin antagonists used widely as T-cell immunosuppressants; however, their relative efficacy on the production of interleukin-18 (IL-18) remains undefined. We have examined the effects of FK-506 and CsA on the cytokine generation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We studied the levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18), IL-12, IL-10, IL-6, IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the supernatant in allo-MLR by ELISA assay. Supernatant levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 were detected 12 h after MLR and markedly increased thereafter. In contrast, production of IL-18 was detected at 12 h, reached a near maximum level at 24 h and decreased at 72 h. These results suggested that IFN-gamma production depended on IL-18, IL-12 and IL-2 in the early phase of MLR and depended mainly on IL-12 and IL-2 in the late phase. Both calcineurin antagonists inhibit the generation of IL-18, which plays a large role in allogeneic cell interactions, in macrophages and they also promote an equivalent down-regulation of T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 responses in a concentration-dependent manner. About 90% of IFN-gamma production induced by MLR was inhibited by an anti-IL-18 antibody, showing that IL-18 can trigger IFN-gamma production in MLR. These results suggest that dual signaling consisting of antigen-driven nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) activation and LPS-mediated NF-kappaB activation is crucial for IL-18 production in macrophages, and that IL-18 can trigger IFN-gamma production in T-cells by MLR.
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PMID:Calcineurin antagonists inhibit interferon-gamma production by downregulation of interleukin-18 in human mixed lymphocyte reactions. 1106 69


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