title: Influence of immunosuppressive drugs on dendritic cells.
abstract: Immunosuppressive drugs used to control allograft rejection and in efforts to promote transplant tolerance are well recognized for their abilities to inhibit lymphocyte activation and proliferation. In recent years, evidence has accumulated that these diversely acting agents (anti-proliferative drugs, calcineurin inhibitors, rapamycin, deoxyspergualin and glucocorticoids) also affect the development and functional immunobiology of dendritic cells, in vitro and in vivo. Here we review the influence of immunosuppressive drugs on the differentiation and function of these important antigen-presenting cells. We also consider how these effects influence immune reactivity and tolerance induction, implications for furthermore understanding of dendritic cell biology and prospects for improving the outcome of organ transplantation and therapy of other immune-mediated disorders by impacting dendritic cell function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Angus W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D019703:Calcineurin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D019703:Calcineurin; D020123:Sirolimus