Prolonged administration of FTY720 does not cause renal toxicity in mice

Prevention of allograft rejection without renal toxicity caused by calcineurin-inhibitor immunosuppression is a major goal for transplantation. FTY720 is a synthetic drug that modulates immune responses of transplantation in many animal models. FTY720 modulating mechanisms relate to lymphocyte migration to peripheral lymph nodes instead of inflammatory sites. The drug has no effect on T-cell proliferation or cytokine production, and therefore prevents generalized immunosuppression. However, it is still to be confirmed that FTY720 has no nephrotoxic effects when administered continuously. In the present study FTY720 was administered orally for 21 days to C57BL/6 mice that underwent weekly evaluations. FTY720 (1 mg/kg per day) impaired body weight gain, but had no significant effect on either renal function or structure. Our findings suggest that FTY720 may provide a reasonable add-on therapy in calcineurin-inhibitor-treated transplant recipients.