Description
Pimecrolimus is a calcineurin inhibitor that exhibits immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive activities. Pimecrolimus prevents calcineurin from dephosphorylating nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT), inhibiting T cell signaling; this inhibition of T cell signaling also prevents release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pimecrolimus is clinically used to treat inflammatory skin diseases such as cutaneous lupus erythematosus and contact dermatitis. This compound also displays some antinociceptive properties and may desensitize transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) channels in skin sensory neurons.
References
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Hultsch T, Kapp A, Spergel J. Immunomodulation and safety of topical calcineurin inhibitors for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Dermatology. 2005;211(2):174-87. Review. Erratum in: Dermatology. 2005;211(3):292. PMID: 16088174.
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Gupta AK, Chow M. Pimecrolimus: a review. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2003 Sep;17(5):493-503. PMID: 12941081.
