Biomaterial Database

Mechanisms of action of cyclosporine. 2000

S Matsuda, and S Koyasu

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, 160-8582, Tokyo, Japan.

Cyclosporine (cyclosporin A, CsA) has potent immunosuppressive properties, reflecting its ability to block the transcription of cytokine genes in activated T cells. It is well established that CsA through formation of a complex with cyclophilin inhibits the phosphatase activity of calcineurin, which regulates nuclear translocation and subsequent activation of NFAT transcription factors. In addition to the calcineurin/NFAT pathway, recent studies indicate that CsA also blocks the activation of JNK and p38 signaling pathways triggered by antigen recognition, making CsA a highly specific inhibitor of T cell activation. Here we discuss the action of CsA on JNK and p38 activation pathways. We also argue the potential of CsA and its natural counterparts as pharmacological probes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007166	Immunosuppressive Agents	Agents that suppress immune function by one of several mechanisms of action. Classical cytotoxic immunosuppressants act by inhibiting DNA synthesis. Others may act through activation of T-CELLS or by inhibiting the activation of HELPER CELLS. While immunosuppression has been brought about in the past primarily to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, new applications involving mediation of the effects of INTERLEUKINS and other CYTOKINES are emerging.	Immunosuppressant,Immunosuppressive Agent,Immunosuppressants,Agent, Immunosuppressive,Agents, Immunosuppressive
D004789	Enzyme Activation	Conversion of an inactive form of an enzyme to one possessing metabolic activity. It includes 1, activation by ions (activators); 2, activation by cofactors (coenzymes); and 3, conversion of an enzyme precursor (proenzyme or zymogen) to an active enzyme.	Activation, Enzyme,Activations, Enzyme,Enzyme Activations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016572	Cyclosporine	A cyclic undecapeptide from an extract of soil fungi. It is a powerful immunosupressant with a specific action on T-lymphocytes. It is used for the prophylaxis of graft rejection in organ and tissue transplantation. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed).	Cyclosporin A,Ciclosporin,CsA-Neoral,CyA-NOF,Cyclosporin,Cyclosporine A,Neoral,OL 27-400,Sandimmun,Sandimmun Neoral,Sandimmune,CsA Neoral,CsANeoral,CyA NOF,OL 27 400,OL 27400
D048051	p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases	A mitogen-activated protein kinase subfamily that regulates a variety of cellular processes including CELL GROWTH PROCESSES; CELL DIFFERENTIATION; APOPTOSIS; and cellular responses to INFLAMMATION. The P38 MAP kinases are regulated by CYTOKINE RECEPTORS and can be activated in response to bacterial pathogens.	Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase p38,p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase,p38 MAP Kinase,p38 MAPK,p38 Protein Kinase,p38 SAPK,MAP Kinase, p38,MAPK, p38,Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase p38,Protein Kinase, p38,p38 Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase,p38 Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases
D019703	Calcineurin	A CALCIUM and CALMODULIN-dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase that is composed of the calcineurin A catalytic subunit and the calcineurin B regulatory subunit. Calcineurin has been shown to dephosphorylate a number of phosphoproteins including HISTONES; MYOSIN LIGHT CHAIN; and the regulatory subunits of CAMP-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASES. It is involved in the regulation of signal transduction and is the target of an important class of immunophilin-immunosuppressive drug complexes.	Calcineurin A,Calcineurin B,Protein Phosphatase-2B,Protein Phosphatase 3,Protein Phosphatase 3 Catalytic Subunit,Protein Phosphatase 3 Regulatory Subunit,Phosphatase 3, Protein,Protein Phosphatase 2B
D020928	Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases	A superfamily of PROTEIN SERINE-THREONINE KINASES that are activated by diverse stimuli via protein kinase cascades. They are the final components of the cascades, activated by phosphorylation by MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE KINASES, which in turn are activated by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAP KINASE KINASE KINASES).	Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase,Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase,Kinase, Mitogen-Activated Protein,Kinases, Mitogen-Activated Protein,Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases,Protein Kinase, Mitogen-Activated,Protein Kinases, Mitogen-Activated
D020935	MAP Kinase Signaling System	An intracellular signaling system involving the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades (three-membered protein kinase cascades). Various upstream activators, which act in response to extracellular stimuli, trigger the cascades by activating the first member of a cascade, MAP KINASE KINASE KINASES; (MAPKKKs). Activated MAPKKKs phosphorylate MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE KINASES which in turn phosphorylate the MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASES; (MAPKs). The MAPKs then act on various downstream targets to affect gene expression. In mammals, there are several distinct MAP kinase pathways including the ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway, the SAPK/JNK (stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun kinase) pathway, and the p38 kinase pathway. There is some sharing of components among the pathways depending on which stimulus originates activation of the cascade.	MAP Kinase Cascade,MAP Kinase Module,MAP Kinase Signaling Cascade,MAP Kinase Signaling Pathway,MAP Kinase Signaling Pathways,ERK Pathway,ERK Signal Tranduction Pathway,ERK1 and ERK2 Pathway,ERK1-2 Pathway,JNK Pathway,JNK Signaling Pathway,MAP Kinase Modules,MAP Kinase Signaling Cascades,MEK-ERK Pathway,p38 Kinase Pathway,p38 Kinase Signaling Pathway,Cascade, MAP Kinase,ERK Pathways,ERK1 2 Pathway,ERK1-2 Pathways,JNK Pathways,JNK Signaling Pathways,Kinase Cascade, MAP,Kinase Pathway, p38,Kinase Pathways, p38,MAP Kinase Cascades,MEK ERK Pathway,MEK-ERK Pathways,Module, MAP Kinase,Pathway, ERK,Pathway, ERK1-2,Pathway, JNK,Pathway, JNK Signaling,Pathway, MEK-ERK,Pathway, p38 Kinase,Pathways, ERK,Pathways, ERK1-2,Pathways, JNK,Pathways, JNK Signaling,Pathways, MEK-ERK,Pathways, p38 Kinase,Signaling Pathway, JNK,Signaling Pathways, JNK,p38 Kinase Pathways