title: The effect of FK506 and cyclosporin A on antigen-induced arthritis.
abstract: FK506 and cyclosporin A inhibited the development of antigen-induced arthritis in the rat and rabbit. FK506 was five times more potent than cyclosporin A in the rat and approximately 20 times more potent in the rabbit. FK506 was effective in both species if administered either from the day of intra-articular administration of antigen or when the arthritis was established. In the rabbit, arthritis returned when administration of FK506 was stopped. FK506 (10 mg/kg/day) caused renal damage which was not observed at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day. Both of these doses were equally effective at inhibiting the arthritis. The conclusion from these studies is that FK506 is a more effective anti-arthritic agent than cyclosporin A and that a pronounced therapeutic effect can be achieved at non-toxic doses of the drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Fisons Pharmaceuticals, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blackham
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006614:Hindlimb; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D016572:Cyclosporine; D010047:Ovalbumin; D016559:Tacrolimus