Synonyms: Azasan® | BW-57-322 | Imuran® | Jayempi®
azathioprine is an approved drug (FDA (1968), EMA (2021))
Compound class:
Synthetic organic
Comment: Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive antimetabolite. The active drug is believed to be mercaptopurine.
Marketed formulations may contain azathioprine sodium (PubChem CID 23678403). View more information in the IUPHAR Pharmacology Education Project: azathioprine |
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Bioactivity Comments |
Azathioprine is reported to inhibit peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PADI4), albeit with very low in vitro affinity [2]. PADI enzymes catalyze the hydrolytic deimination of protein arginine to produce protein citrulline and ammonia [1] and cause chromatin decondensation. Dysregulated PADI4 activity may be involved in cancer progression as it is overexpressed in many malignant tumours, where enhanced chromatin decondensation is involved in promoting pluripotency and stem cell maintenance. |