Tacrolimus, sold under the brand name Prograf among others, is an immunosuppressive drug. After allogenic organ transplant, the risk of organ rejection is moderate. To lower the risk of organ rejection, tacrolimus is given. The drug can also be sold as a topical medication in the treatment of T-cell-mediated diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. For example, it is prescribed for severe refractory uveitis after a bone marrow transplant, exacerbations of minimal change disease, Kimura's disease, and vitiligo. It can be used to treat dry eye syndrome in cats and dogs.
Immunosuppressive drugs, also known as immunosuppressive agents, immunosuppressants and antirejection medications, are drugs that inhibit or prevent the activity of the immune system.
Calcineurin (CaN) is a calcium and calmodulin dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase. It activates the T cells of the immune system and can be blocked by drugs. Calcineurin activates nuclear factor of activated T cell cytoplasmic (NFATc), a transcription factor, by dephosphorylating it. The activated NFATc is then translocated into the nucleus, where it upregulates the expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2), which, in turn, stimulates the growth and differentiation of the T cell response. Calcineurin is the target of a class of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors, which include ciclosporin, voclosporin, pimecrolimus and tacrolimus.
Cyclophilins (CYPs) are a family of proteins named after their ability to bind to ciclosporin, an immunosuppressant which is usually used to suppress rejection after internal organ transplants. They are found in all domains of life. These proteins have peptidyl prolyl isomerase activity, which catalyzes the isomerization of peptide bonds from trans form to cis form at proline residues and facilitates protein folding.
Stuart L. Schreiber is a scientist at Harvard University and co-founder of the Broad Institute. He has been active in chemical biology, especially the use of small molecules as probes of biology and medicine. Small molecules are the molecules of life most associated with dynamic information flow; these work in concert with the macromolecules that are the basis for inherited information flow.
In molecular biology, immunophilins are endogenous cytosolic peptidyl-prolyl isomerases (PPI) that catalyze the interconversion between the cis and trans isomers of peptide bonds containing the amino acid proline (Pro). They are chaperone molecules that generally assist in the proper folding of diverse "client" proteins. Immunophilins are traditionally classified into two families that differ in sequence and biochemical characteristics. These two families are: "cyclosporin-binding cyclophilins (CyPs)" and "FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs)". In 2005, a group of dual-family immunophilins (DFI) has been discovered, mostly in unicellular organisms; these DFIs are natural chimera of CyP and FKBPs, fused in either order.
FK506-binding protein 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FKBP4 gene.
Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase FKBP1A is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the FKBP1A gene. It is also commonly referred to as FKBP-12 or FKBP12 and is a member of a family of FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs).
Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase B is an enzyme that is encoded by the PPIB gene. As a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) family, this protein catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds, which allows it to regulate protein folding of type I collagen. Generally, PPIases are found in all eubacteria and eukaryotes, as well as in a few archaebacteria, and thus are highly conserved.
FK506 binding protein 5, also known as FKBP5, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the FKBP5 gene.
FK506-binding protein 8 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FKBP8 gene.
Calcineurin subunit B type 1 also known as protein phosphatase 2B regulatory subunit 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PPP3R1 gene.
Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase FKBP1B is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the FKBP1B gene.
FK506-binding protein 3 also known as FKBP25 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FKBP3 gene.
Peptidylprolyl isomerase D (cyclophilin D), also known as PPID, is an enzyme which in humans is encoded by the PPID gene on chromosome 4. As a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) family, this protein catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds, which allows it to facilitate folding or repair of proteins. In addition, PPID participates in many biological processes, including mitochondrial metabolism, apoptosis, redox, and inflammation, as well as in related diseases and conditions, such as ischemic reperfusion injury, AIDS, and cancer.
FK506-binding protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FKBP2 gene.
Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, mitochondrial (PPIF) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PPIF gene. It has also been referred to as, but should not be confused with, cyclophilin D (CypD), which is encoded by the PPID gene. As a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) family, this protein catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds, which allows it to facilitate folding or repair of proteins. PPIF is a major component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) and, thus, highly involved in mitochondrial metabolism and apoptosis, as well as in mitochondrial diseases and related conditions, including cardiac diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and muscular dystrophy. In addition, PPIF participates in inflammation, as well as in ischemic reperfusion injury, AIDS, and cancer.
Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase C (PPIC) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PPIC gene on chromosome 5. As a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) family, this protein catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds, which allows it to facilitate folding or repair of proteins. In addition, PPIC participates in many biological processes, including mitochondrial metabolism, apoptosis, redox, and inflammation, as well as in related diseases and conditions, such as ischemic reperfusion injury, AIDS, and cancer.
Peptidylprolyl isomerase E (cyclophilin E), also known as PPIE, is an enzyme which in humans is encoded by the PPIE gene on chromosome 1. As a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) family, this protein catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds, which allows it to facilitate folding or repair of proteins. In addition, PPIE participates in many biological processes, including mitochondrial metabolism, apoptosis, and inflammation, as well as related diseases and conditions, such as ischemic reperfusion injury, AIDS, influenza, and cancer.
FK506 binding protein 6, also known as FKBP6, is a human gene. The encoded protein shows structural homology to FKBP immunophilins, which bind to the immunosuppressants FK506 and rapamycin.
