cyclosporine

Also cy·clo·spo·rin

[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

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

Example Sentences

Then, in the early 1970s, Dr. Calne learned of a new drug, cyclosporine.

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He helped develop the breakthrough anti-rejection drug cyclosporine and was the first physician to administer it to transplant patients.

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Cyclosporine, which helped turn transplantation into an established clinical practice, was one such drug.

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The drug was cyclosporine, an inexpensive immunosuppressant that had until then been used in organ transplants to prevent the rejection of new tissue.

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Experimentation with cyclosporine soon stopped.

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