The immunosuppressant FK-506 prevents progression of diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice.
A novel immunosuppressive compound, FK-506, isolated from Streptomyces has potent immunosuppressive activities. To investigate the effect of FK-506 on the course of diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, we gave this drug to these animals, from the age of 8 weeks, intraperitoneally, in doses of 0.1 mg (2.5 mg/kg/day) or 0.01 mg (0.25 mg/kg/day) three times a week. Overt diabetes were observed in 75.5% of control mice by the age of 20 weeks. In contrast, no diabetes occurred in mice given 0.1 mg of FK-506. Sixteen percent of mice treated with 0.01 mg of the drug became diabetic. Administration of this drug prevented the progression of insulitis in NOD mice. The mice given 0.1 mg of FK-506 lost weight, but this was reversible.
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan.
K
K
Kurasawa
T
T
Koike
R
R
Matsumura
K
K
Takabayashi
H
H
Tomioka
I
I
Ito
S
S
Yoshida
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016559:Tacrolimus; D015431:Weight Loss
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus