Tag: T cells

The human body contains an estimated two trillion lymphocytes, with a large portion being T cells that are crucial for adaptive immunity. So, what medications increase T cells and how do they harness the power of this complex system to fight disease?

Used in over 500,000 prescriptions in the U.S. in 2021, tacrolimus is a powerful immunosuppressive drug [1.3.3]. So, **what does tacrolimus do to the immune system?** It primarily works by decreasing the activity of T-cells to prevent organ rejection and treat certain autoimmune conditions [1.2.1, 1.2.2].

Immunosuppressants are critical for preventing organ rejection and managing autoimmune diseases, with studies showing they completely suppress T-cell proliferation in many transplant patients. So, what do immunosuppressants do to T-cells? In essence, these drugs block or modulate the key pathways required for T-cell activation and expansion, effectively dampening the immune response.

Tacrolimus is a powerful immunosuppressive medication, approximately 100 times more potent than cyclosporine at inhibiting T-cell activation. This calcineurin inhibitor works by targeting crucial signaling pathways within T cells to prevent the immune system from attacking transplanted organs.