title: [Clinical views from the forefront of immunosuppressive drugs].
abstract: Recently, many immunosuppressants have been developed and some of them have already been introduced in clinical organ transplantation. With a new concept of immunoregulation, which focuses on prevention of rejection and over-immunosuppression, the latest protocol has been conducted. Chimeric or humanized antibodies targeting the lymphocyte surface molecule such as CD19, 20, 25, 40, and 52 are administrated in the induction phase, and calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporin and tacrolimus) are used as key drugs. For tapering the doses of them, the combined application of anti-metabolic agents of azathioprine, mizoribine, or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been proved effective. Lymphocyte forming drugs induce unique immunoregulation, targeting at sphingosine 1-phosphate (SlP) receptors. FTY720 is now in the procedure of clinical trial to compare with MMF. KRP203 is also a candidate for more specific SIP receptor agonist. In this issue, I reviewed the recent immunosuppressive strategy and focused on the advance of novel immunosuppressive drugs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Organ Replacement Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical School.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000008:administration & dosage; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016377:Organ Transplantation
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents