cyclosporine

American  

[sahy-kluh-spawr-een, -in, -spohr-, sik-luh-] / ˌsaɪ kləˈspɔr in, -ɪn, -ˈspoʊr-, ˌsɪk lə- /

Also cyclosporin

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.

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cyclosporine Scientific  

/ 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.

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Etymology

Origin of cyclosporine

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

Example Sentences

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

From Seattle Times • Jan. 7, 2024

The drug cyclosporine is used to suppress immune rejection of organ transplants by inhibiting production of interleukin, a cytokine messenger that increases expression in T cells.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Isolated from a soil fungus found in Africa, cyclosporine was synthesized as an immunosuppressant by the pharmaceutical company Sandoz in 1980, and after wide testing was released into the market in 1983.

From Washington Post • Sep. 30, 2019

Before cyclosporine, you had only 10 centers around the world doing organ transplants.

From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2012

Because they dampen the body’s disease-fighting systems, drugs most commonly used, cyclosporine and tacrolimus, are associated with infections, tumors and kidney damage, Sher said.

From BusinessWeek • Jan. 17, 2011