Aim: To compare therapeutic benefits of different immunophilin ligands for treating nerve injuries.

/

Materials & methods: Cyclosporine, FK506 and rapamycin, were evaluated first in vitro on a serum-free culture of embryonic dorsal root ganglia followed by a new in vivo model of chronic nerve compression.

Results: Outcomes of the in vitro study have shown a potent effect of cyclosporine and FK506, on dorsal root ganglia axonal outgrowth, comparable to the effect of nerve growth factor. Rapamycin exhibited only a moderate effect. The in vivo study revealed the beneficial effects of Cyclosporine, FK506 and rapamycin for neuromuscular regeneration. Cyclosporine showed the better maintenance of the tissues and function.

Conclusion: Cyclosporine, FK506 and rapamycin drugs showed potential for treating peripheral nerve chronic compression injuries.