Immunosuppressive drugs prevent a rapid dephosphorylation of transcription factor NFAT1 in stimulated immune cells

Karen T.Y. Shaw, Andrew M. Ho, Anuradha Raghavan, Jaime Kim, Jugnu Jain, Jungchan Park, Surendra Sharma, Anjana Rao, Patrick G. Hogan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporin A and FK506 interfere with the inducible transcription of cytokine genes in T cells and in other immune cells, in part by preventing the activation of NF-AT (nuclear factor of activated T cells). We show that transcription factor NFAT1 in T cells is rapidly dephosphorylated on stimulation, that dephosphorylation occurs before translocation of NFAT1 into the cell nucleus, and that dephosphorylation increases the affinity of NFAT1 for its specific sites in DNA. Cyclosporin A prevents the dephosphorylation and the nuclear translocation of NFAT1 in T cells, B cells, macrophages, and mast cells, delineating at least one mechanism that contributes to the profound immunosuppressive effects of this compound.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11205-11209
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume92
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 21 1995
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • DNA binding
  • FK506
  • cyclosporin A
  • nuclear translocation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Immunosuppressive drugs prevent a rapid dephosphorylation of transcription factor NFAT1 in stimulated immune cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this