Oral administration of a nonimmunosuppressant FKBP-12 ligand speeds nerve regeneration.

We recently showed that s.c. injections of a nonimmunosuppressant FK506 binding protein-12 (FKBP-12) ligand (V-10,367) accelerates nerve regeneration in the rat sciatic nerve crush model.

The immunosuppressant FK506 increases GAP-43 mRNA levels in axotomized sensory neurons.

FK506, an immunosuppressant drug used to prevent allograft rejection in organ transplantations, accelerates functional recovery and nerve regeneration in the rat sciatic nerve crush model. While the mechanism by which FK506 increases regeneration is unknown, in contrast to immunosuppression, it does not involve calcineurin inhibition. Using the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique and a digoxigenin-labeled probe, we show that subcutaneous injections of FK506 (10 mg/kg/day) markedly increases the level of axotomy-induced growth-associated protein (GAP-43) mRNA in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons.

A nonimmunosuppressant FKBP-12 ligand increases nerve regeneration.

The immunosuppressant drugs FK506 and cyclosporin A inhibit T-cell proliferation via a common mechanism: calcineurin inhibition following binding to their respective binding proteins, the peptidyl prolyl isomerases FKBP-12 and cyclophilin A. In contrast, FK506, but not cyclosporin A, accelerates nerve regeneration. In the present study, we show that the potent FKBP-12 inhibitor V-10,367, which lacks the structural components of FK506 required for calcineurin inhibition, increases neurite outgrowth in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and speeds nerve regeneration in the rat sciatic nerve crush model.

Comparative dose-dependence study of FK506 and cyclosporin A on the rate of axonal regeneration in the rat sciatic nerve.

The new immunosuppressant drug FK506 (Tacrolimus) increases the rate of nerve regeneration in vivo (Gold et al., 1994; Gold et al., 1995).

Stabilization and characterization of antigen-specific T suppressor inducer and T suppressor effector molecules.

H-2 specific T suppressor inducer (Tsfi) and T suppressor effector (Tsfe) factors show a dose-dependent inhibition of one-way mixed lymphocyte responses (MLR) between CBA/J responder spleen cells and C57BL/6 mitomycin C-treated stimulator spleen cells. The hydrophobic proteins Tsfi and Tsfe purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and affinity methods were stabilized by the addition of Tris-saline pH 8 buffered octylglucopyranoside solution. The stabilized Tsfi and Tsfe fractions stored at 4 degrees C for 3-7 months retained a significant (> 72%) amount of their ability to inhibit MLR.