| A purine analogue with cytotoxic and immunosuppressive activity. 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. This leads to inhibition of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. As a result, cell proliferation may be inhibited, particularly in lymphocytes and leukocytes. Azathioprine is from the group Immunosuppressant
Purine Antagonist
Other Names for Azathioprine
Azathioprine
6-[(1-Methyl-4-nitro-1H-imidazol-5-yl)thio]-1H-purine
AZA
AZATHIOPRINE
AZTP
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