Description
RapamycinisamacrolideinitiallyproducedbyStreptomycesthatexhibitsimmunosuppressiveandpro-fibroticactivities.RapamycininhibitsmTORbybindingFKBP12andformingacomplexthatbindsdirectlytomTOR;itisclinicallyusedtopreventrejectioninorgantransplantpatients.RapamycinpreventsIL-2-inducedactivationofTcellsandBcells.RapamycinalsopreventsIgAnephropathy,decreasingIgAdeposition,inhibitingcellproliferation,andsuppressingexpressionofα-SMA,typeIIIcollagen,PDGF,andTGF-β1.Additionally,rapamycinincreasesconnectivetissuegrowthfactorlevelsinepithelialcells.