| immunosuppressant | <immunology, pharmacology> An agent capable of suppressing immune responses. (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| immunosuppressed | <immunology> Condition of having a lowered resistance to disease. May be a temporary result of lowered white blood cells from chemotherapy administration. (09 Oct 1997) |
| immunosuppression | <immunology> This occurs when T and/or B clones of lymphocytes are depleted in size or suppressed in their reactivity, expansion or differentiation. It may arise from activation of specific or non-specific T suppressor lymphocytes of either T or B clones or by drugs that have generalised effects on most or all T or B lymphocytes. Cyclosporin A and FK506 act on T-cells, as does antilymphocyte serum, alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide are less specific in their action and damage DNA replication, while base analogues interfering with guanine metabolism act in a similar way. See: immunophilin. (18 Nov 1997) |
| immunosuppressive | 1. Denoting or inducing immunosuppression. Synonym: immunosuppressant. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immunosuppressive agent | <immunology, pharmacology> Any chemotherapeutic agent which also has the effect of suppressing the immune system. most often these agents will reduce the absolute number of white blood cells in the bloodstream. (27 Sep 1997) |
| immunosuppressive agents | Agents that suppress immune function by one of several mechanisms of action. Classical cytotoxic immunosuppressants act by inhibiting DNA synthesis. Others may act through activation of suppressor T-cell populations or by inhibiting the activation of helper cells. While immunosuppression has been brought about in the past primarily to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, new applications involving mediation of the effects of interleukins and other cytokines are emerging. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immunosuppressive drugs | Drugs that block the bodys ability to fight infection or foreign substances that enter the body. A person receiving an organ transplant is given these drugs to stop the body from rejecting the new organ or tissue. Cyclosporin is a commonly used immunosuppressive drug. (09 Oct 1997) |