Calcineurin inhibitors
Calcineurin Inhibitors
Calcineurin inhibitors (pronunciation: kal-sin-yoor-in in-hib-it-ors) are a class of medications that suppress the immune system, primarily used in organ transplantation to prevent organ rejection. They function by inhibiting the action of calcineurin, a protein phosphatase involved in the activation of T cells, which play a crucial role in the body's immune response.
Etymology
The term "calcineurin inhibitors" is derived from the name of the protein they inhibit, calcineurin. The word "calcineurin" itself is a combination of "calcium", referring to the ion that activates the protein, and "neurin", derived from the Greek word "neuron", meaning nerve.
Types of Calcineurin Inhibitors
There are two main types of calcineurin inhibitors:
- Cyclosporine (pronunciation: sy-klo-spor-een): This medication was the first calcineurin inhibitor to be discovered and is still widely used today. It is often used in combination with other immunosuppressive drugs.
- Tacrolimus (pronunciation: ta-kro-li-mus): This is a more potent calcineurin inhibitor than cyclosporine and is currently the most commonly used drug in this class.
Related Terms
- Immunosuppression: The reduction of the activation or efficacy of the immune system.
- Organ rejection: A process in which a transplant recipient's immune system attacks the transplanted organ or tissue.
- T cells: A type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system and is at the core of adaptive immunity, the system that tailors the body's immune response to specific pathogens.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Calcineurin inhibitors
- Wikipedia's article - Calcineurin inhibitors
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