T-cell activation inhibitors (under construction)

T-cell activation inhibitors are immunosuppressants. They find clinical use in autoimmune disease and transplant rejection prevention.

Abatacept is a recombinant protein fusing the extracellular domain of human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4- required for T cell co-stimulation) with an antibody Fc domain. It acts as a binding protein, effectively removing CTLA-4 from the circulation, thereby suppressing T cell activation. Abatacept is used to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Belatacept is similar in structure and function to abatacept, but is instead approved for prophylaxis of organ rejection after kidney transplant.