Immunosuppression by discodermolide.

In summary, discodermolide, a novel, marine-derived compound, is a potent in vitro and in vivo immunosuppressive agent. Discodermolide blocks cellular proliferation in lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells. This blocking action is not due to cytotoxicity. Blockage of cell proliferation by discodermolide appears to occur at the G2/M interface of the cell cycle, similar to that observed with other types of antiproliferative drugs (i.e., doxorubicin). The cell cycle block appears to be reversible, as cells recover normal cycling patterns within 48 h after removal of the compound. Additional work with this compound is targeted towards determining the exact nature of discodermolide's mitotic block and is currently under way.