Table 1.

Main effects exerted by immunosuppressive drugs on immune cells.

Mechanism of action	Drugs	Impact on immune cells	References
Regulation of gene expression	Glucorticoides	• Impair monocyte and macrophage function • Decrease circulating levels of CD4+ T cells.	(22)
Inhibition of de novo purine synthesis	Azathioprine Mycophenolate Mofetil	• Interfere with T-cells stimulation and proliferation • Significant reduction of CD107 expression in NK cells • Significant reduction of INF-γ production by NK cells • Down-regulation of co-stimulatory and adhesion molecules human monocyte-derived DC	(22) (64) (65)
Kinase and phosphatase inhibitors	Calcineurin inhibitors mTOR inhibitors	• Inhibit of NF-kB phosphorylation in CD3+ T-cells, CD4+ T-cells and CD8+ T-cells • Prevent naïve T-cells differentiation • Preserve stable numbers of NK cells • Reduce IL-2 and TNF-α production by macrophages • Affect DC maturation in vitro • Impair IL-12 production by DCs • Impair B-cells proliferation • Impair CD19+CD27+ memory B-cells • Promote CD4+CD25highFOXP3+ Tregs expansion • Reduce the numbers of NK cells • Decrease M-MDSCs differentiation • Induce macrophages apoptosis • Impair DCs maturation and function	(66) (67) (68) (69) (70, 71) (72) (73) (74) (75) (68) (76) (77) (78–80)