Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors

  • Pimecrolimus (Elidel®) and tacrolimus (Protopic®)
  • Binds FK506-binding protein, which then inhibits calcineurin (phosphatase) and subsequently blocks T-cell activation; calcineurin typically activated by calcium and calmodulin (bound together), which subsequently causes dephosphorylation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and T-cell activation