title: Effect of FK506 ointment (Protopic) on rat skin allograft model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  FK-506 (tacrolimus) is a well known immunosuppressive agent used to prevent allograft rejection. The need for chronic allograft immunosuppression and the consequent harmful systemic effects preclude the use of tissue allograft as a routine surgical reconstructive option. This study assessed the effects of FK-506 ointment (Protopic) therapy versus subcutaneous injection of FK-506 (Prograf) on rat skin graft model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Donor Wistar rat dorsal skin was grafted to recipient Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals groups were divided into 2 groups: Group I was treated with intravenous injection of FK-506, and group II was treated with FK-506 ointment for 2 weeks after surgery. Graft appearance challenges were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FK506 ointment could prolong the median allograft survival time (16.7 days) compared with group I (15.8). Hematoxylin-eosin staining performed on the allo-skin biopsy samples obtained from both group I and II animals at 2 weeks after graft revealed moderate degree of skin rejection accompanied by mixed lymphocyte infiltration. Tacrolimus mean blood levels were much lower in group II (<0.2 ng/mL) than in group I (0.45 ng/mL) CONCLUSIONS: Immunosuppressive FK506 ointment therapy has similar effect to intravenous injection and it could be a useful therapy in the prevention of skin allograft rejection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Y E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Korea. Electronic address: sceun@snubh.org.
authors.forename: S-C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Eun
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D064591:Allografts; D000818:Animals; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009824:Ointments; D016559:Tacrolimus