TOPICAL FK506 - SUPPRESSION OF ALLERGIC AND IRRITANT CONTACT-DERMATITIS IN THE GUINEA-PIG

Topical FK506 has recently been shown to have an anti-inflammatory eff ect in vivo in humans. In this study its effects in contact dermatitis were studied in the guinea pig model. Topical FK506 suppressed both i rritant and allergic patch-test reactions. The most prominent suppress ive effect was seen when skin sites were pretreated with FK506. Topica l FK506 did not impair the induction of contact allergy as assessed by challenges, although it suppressed local lymph node cell accumulation during contact allergy induction. Topical FK506 may hold promise as a treatment for skin disorders that respond to oral FK506 or cyclospori n A.