FK506

FK506 is a macrolide antibiotic with potent immunosuppressive properties (Thomson et al.). It inhibits the calcineurin/NFAT pathway (Martinez-Martinez & Redondo) and binds with high affinity to FK506 binding protein 12 (FKBP-12) (Thomson et al.).

MAINTENANCE AND SELF-RENEWAL

• Promotes the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells independent of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and attenuates differentiation following LIF withdrawal (Li et al.).
• In combination with 1-Azakenpaullone (Catalog #74252) and ID-8 (Catalog #72502), enhances the expansion rates of several human pluripotent stem cell lines (Yasuda et al.).

IMMUNOLOGY

• Inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine production by activated T cells (Sakuma et al.).