FK506

FK506 or Fujimycin or Tacrolimus, is an immunosuppressant. It is mainly used after allogeneic organ transplants, but can also be used topically in the treatment of eczema, uveitis and vitiligo (1). It is a macrolide that prevents the dephosphorylation of NF-AT. It reduces peptidyl-prolyl isomerase activity by binding to FKBP12 creating a new complex that interacts with and inhibits calcineurin (2, 3). It is a neuroprotective in a model of antiretroviral toxic neuropathy (4).

1. Nanette B., et al. (2004) J Am Acad Derm. 51(5): 760-766. 2. Ganong W.F., Review of Medical Physiology (22nd ed.) Lange Medical Books. P.530 3. Liu J. Lane W., Friedman J, Weissman I and Schreiber S. (1991) Cell. 66(4): 807-815 4. Keswani S., et al. (2003) Ann Neurol. 53(1): 57-64.