A novel sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist KRP-203 attenuates rat autoimmune myocarditis.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is an active sphingolipid metabolite that exerts important biological effects. Recently, we demonstrated that KRP-203 is a novel S1P receptor agonist that can alter lymphocyte homing and act as an immunomodulating agent. We investigated the efficacy of KRP-203 in the treatment of rat experimental autoimmune myocarditis.

KRP-203, a novel synthetic immunosuppressant, prolongs graft survival and attenuates chronic rejection in rat skin and heart allografts.

Background: A novel immunomodulator, KRP-203, the molecular structure of which has some similarity to FTY720, has been developed for use in organ transplantation. The present study was designed to investigate the potency and safety of KRP-203 on allograft survival against both acute and chronic rejection in rat skin and heart transplantation.

Methods And Results: KRP-203 significantly prolonged skin or heart allograft survival of a minor histocompatibility complex (mHC)-disparate (LEW to F344) rat combination.