title: Belatacept in clinical and experimental transplantation - progress and promise.
abstract: Belatacept is a fusion protein composed of the Fc fragment of a human IgG(1) immunoglobulin linked to the extracellular domain of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4). CTLA4 is a molecule crucial for T-cell costimulation, selectively blocking the process of T-cell activation. Belatacept binds surface costimulatory ligands (CD80 and CD86) of antigen-presenting cells. Studies on nonhuman primates, as well as phase II and III clinical trials are here reviewed. Belatacept is a promising therapy in organ transplantation and in the future can be used to induce tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Division, Federal University of São Paulo and Albert Einstein Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil. erikabr@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Erika B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Rangel
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014180:Transplantation
chemical_list: D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069594:Abatacept