CD80/86 inhibitors : abatacept

CD80/CD86 inhibitors are protein constructs which bind and inactivate CD80/CD86 on the surfaces of antigen-presenting B-cells and monocytes, blocking the costimulatory signal between these cells and CD28 on T-cells that is the second message of T-cell receptor/MHC interaction. They are members of a group of proteins commonly termed biological response modifiers (BRMs) or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). The major CD80/CD86 inhibitor, abatacept, is not classified as a slow-acting antirheumatic drug (SAARD), because it is considered to have more specific actions and because its therapeutic actions are produced rapidly. Belatacept is a fusion protein which is closely related to abatacept. It is used to prolong kidney grafts.