AZATHIOPRINE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does azathioprine mean? 

• AZATHIOPRINE (noun)
  The noun AZATHIOPRINE has 1 sense:

1. an immunosuppressive drug (trade name Imuran) used to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ

  Familiarity information: AZATHIOPRINE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AZATHIOPRINE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An immunosuppressive drug (trade name Imuran) used to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

azathioprine; Imuran

Hypernyms ("azathioprine" is a kind of...):

medicament; medication; medicinal drug; medicine ((medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease)

 Context examples 

Azathioprine is converted in vivo to its active metabolite 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), which substitutes for the normal nucleoside and mistakenly gets incorporated into DNA sequences.

(Azathioprine sodium, NCI Thesaurus)

Azathioprine sodium blocks the growth of white blood cells and the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and protein.

(Azathioprine sodium, NCI Dictionary)

Azathioprine is a prodrug that is converted by hepatic xanthine oxidase to its active metabolite 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP). 6-MP is further metabolized by hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) into 6-thioguanosine-5'-phosphate (6-thio-GMP) and 6-thioinosine monophosphate (6-thio-IMP), both inhibit nucleotide conversions and de novo purine synthesis.

(Azathioprine, NCI Thesaurus)

The sodium salt form of azathioprine, a pro-drug of purine analogue with immunosuppressive activity.

(Azathioprine sodium, NCI Thesaurus)