Effects of cyclosporin A, rapamycin, and FK520 on peripheral T-cell deletion and anergy.

In this study we compare the effects of cyclosporin A (CsA), FK520 (an agent similar to FK506), and rapamycin (RAPA) on peripheral T-cell deletion induced by either superantigens or anti-TCR alpha beta mAb, and on anergy induced by superantigens in mice. CsA enhanced T-cell deletion and blocked anergy induction (in residual T cells), while FK520 and RAPA had no effects on these processes. CsA also enhanced apoptosis of stimulated T cells in vitro, where cell death occurred without prior proliferation and in the absence of phagocytes. Our data suggest that CsA exerts these effects through a calcineurin-independent pathway, and this may be relevant to the development of tolerance in some models.