Cyclosporin a and tacrolimus (FK506) differentially alter T-cell receptor expression in vivo.

Cyclosporin A (CSA) and tacrolimus (FK506) are two common immunosuppressive agents used post blood and marrow transplantation. Despite similarity in their accepted modes of action, we observed polarized effects of CSA and FK506 on the in vivo human T cell repertoire. To determine the possible mechanism for this difference, the effects of CSA and FK506 on cell viability, cell proliferation, interleukin-2 production, and calcineurin inhibition were determined in vitro. Our data suggest that a secondary mechanism of action exists for the different T-cell repertoire induced by exposure to CSA and FK506.