immunosuppressants Flashcards
immune system
defend body against invading pathogens, foreign antigens and cancerous cells
- helper, cytotoxic and b lymphocytes
- can attack itself (autoimmune)
what are immunosuppressants
drugs that decrease or prevent immune response
- reduce lymphocyte cell division
what are immunosuppressant used for
- autoimmune diseases
- rheumatoid arthritis
- crohn’s disease (GI inflammation)
- organ transplants
how do immunosuppressants work
- inhibit cytokine (IL-2) production/action
- block cytokine receptors on immune cells
- drugs that inhibit RNA/DNA synthesis
immunosuppressant examples
- glucocorticoids (glucocorticosteroids)
- cyclosporine
- tacrolimus
- azathioprine (Imuran)
- mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept)
cyclosporine mechanism of action
cytokine production inhibitor (crucial in T lymphocyte proliferation/activity)
- reduce IL-2 synthesis
cyclosporine indications
used for organ transplants and autoimmune disorders
cyclosporine adverse effects
- kidney damage (nephrotoxicity)
- high BP
- tremors
- hirsutism (male like ahir pattern
drug interactions (cyclosporine)
metabolized by CYP3A4
tacrolimus mechanism of action
cytosine production inhibitor
- reduce IL-2 synthesis
tacrolimus indications
- prevent organ rejection (liver, kidney)
- rheumatoid arthritis
glucocorticoids mechanism of action
inhibit cytokine gene expression
- mimics cortisol
- inhibit synthesis of many cytokinea
glucocorticoid example
prednisone
azathioprine (Imuran) mechanism of action
inhibit DNA/RNA synthesis
azathioprine indications
- prevent transplant rejection
- rheumatoid arthritis
