Calcineurin is a calcium and calmodulin dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase.
Calcineurin activates the T cells of the immune system and can be blocked by inhibiting drugs.
Calcineurin and Inhibitors are highly effective in preventing acute kidney transplantation rejection but have inherent nephrotoxicity.
Calcineurin activates nuclear factor of activated T cell cytoplasmic, a transcription factor, by dephosphorylating it.
The activated nuclear factor of activated T cytoplasmic is then translocated into the nucleus, where it upregulates the expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2).
Interleukin 2 in turn, stimulates the growth and differentiation of the T cell response.
Calcineurin is the target of a class of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors, which include cyclosporine, voclosporin, pimecrolimus and tacrolimus.
Calcineurin Inhibitors, inhibit early activation of T cells.
Calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus, inhibit cell responsiveness to mast cell products and inhibit T cell activity.
Calcineurin inhibitors are used to suppress the immune system in organ allotransplant recipients to prevent rejection of the transplanted tissue.