cyclosporine

[ sahy-kluh-spawr-een, -in, -spohr-, sik-luh- ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. a substance, synthesized by certain soil fungi, that suppresses the immune response by disabling helper T cells, used to minimize rejection of foreign tissue transplants.

cyclosporine

/ sī′klə-spôr′ēn,-ĭn /

1. A polypeptide obtained from any of various deuteromycete fungi, used as an immunosuppressive drug to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyclosporine¹

1975–80; < New Latin Cyclospor ( eae ) a class of brown algae ( cyclo-, -spore, -eae ) + -in ²