Cyclosporines are immunosuppressive drugs used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The spelling of this word can be broken down phonetically as /saɪkloʊˈspɔrɪnz/. The initial sound is made up of the voiced consonant cluster, /s/ and /aɪ/, followed by the stressed syllable, /kloʊ/. The final syllable, /spɔrɪnz/, ends in the voiceless consonant /z/. The plural form of the word is created by adding the suffix "-ines" after the root word.
Cyclosporines refer to a class of immunosuppressive drugs that are primarily used to prevent organ rejection following transplantation. The term encompasses various drugs derived from the natural compound cyclosporin A. These drugs have shown remarkable efficacy in suppressing the immune system and preventing rejection of transplanted organs, hence their extensive use in the field of organ transplantation.
Cyclosporines work by inhibiting the activity of certain immune cells, mainly T-lymphocytes, which are responsible for triggering immune responses. By hindering the activation and proliferation of these cells, cyclosporines can prevent the immune system from attacking and rejecting the newly transplanted organ. They accomplish this by binding to a specific protein, cyclophilin, within the immune cells and forming a complex that blocks the production of cytokines, which are crucial for immune cell activation.
Apart from their use in transplantation medicine, cyclosporines have also found applications in treating various autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, as they can suppress the abnormal immune responses characteristic of these conditions.
However, due to their potent immunosuppressive properties, cyclosporines come with a range of side effects and potential complications. These may include nephrotoxicity, hypertension, increased susceptibility to infections, and the development of certain cancers. Therefore, their use requires careful monitoring and adherence to prescribed dosage guidelines to mitigate these risks.
The word "Cyclosporines" is derived from the term "cyclosporin", which itself has a more complex etymology. "Cyclosporin" is a compound word consisting of "cyclo-" and "sporin".
"Cyclo-" comes from the Greek word "kyklos", which means "circle" or "ring". It refers to the cyclic structure of the chemical compound.
"Sporin" is derived from the word "spore", which is a reproductive structure found in certain organisms like fungi or bacteria. It is believed that this part of the name refers to the origin and development of Cyclosporin, which was first discovered in a soil sample collected from the Norwegian island of Sylt, where it was isolated from a fungus called Tolypocladium inflatum.