title: Immunosuppressive compounds from a deep water marine sponge, Agelas flabelliformis.
abstract: Two immunosuppressive compounds, 4 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-cholest-8-en-3 beta-ol and 4,5-dibromo-2-pyrrolic acid were isolated from a deep water marine sponge, Agelas flabelliformis. Their structures were determined by comparison of their spectral data with those of samples isolated from other organisms. Both compounds were highly active in suppression of the response of murine splenocytes in the two-way mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) with little to no demonstrable cytotoxicity at lower doses. In addition, 4,5-dibromo-2-pyrrolic acid suppressed the proliferative response of splenocytes to suboptimal concentrations of the mitogen, concanavalin A (Con A). These results describe for the first time compounds isolated from the marine sponge A. flabelliformis that possess potent in vitro immunosuppressive activity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Marine Research, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Fort Pierce, Florida 34946.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Gunasekera
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cranick
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Longley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002782:Cholestenes / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011161:Porifera / Q000032:analysis*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D002782:Cholestenes; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011758:Pyrroles; D003208:Concanavalin A; C013605:4-methylcholest-8-en-3-ol; C061629:4,5-dibromo-2-pyrrolic acid