title: Neurotrophic actions of nonimmunosuppressive analogues of immunosuppressive drugs FK506, rapamycin and cyclosporin A.
abstract: We show that the nonimmunosuppressive analogues of the immunosuppressive drugs FK506, rapamycin and cyclosporin A promote neurite outgrowth both in PC12 cells and sensory neuronal cultures of dorsal root ganglia with potencies resembling their immunosuppressive homologues. Neurotrophic potencies of the immunophilin ligands resemble their potencies in binding to and inhibiting the rotamase activity of FKBP-12 of cyclophilin. Since nonimmunosuppressive immunophilin ligands, which are devoid of calcineurin inhibitory activity, are equally neurotrophic, inhibition of calcineurin activity is not the mediator of the neurotrophic effects. The immunophilin ligands are neurotrophic in intact animals. FK506 and L-685,818 (the C18-hydroxy, C21-ethyl derivative of FK506) treatment of rats with crushed sciatic nerves enhances both functional and morphologic recovery. The striking potency of these agents, their bioavailability and the dissociation of neurotrophic from immunosuppressant actions argue for their therapeutic relevance in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiological Research, Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc., Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hester
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Snyder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011090:Polyenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D011090:Polyenes; D011724:Pyridazines; C070951:cyclosporin A, MeAla(6)-; C076383:L 685818; C081453:WAY 124466; D016572:Cyclosporine; D020123:Sirolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus