celastramycin a is an antibiotic that inhibits the growth of bacteria and mycobacteria and is also a potent innate immune suppressor [1][2].celastramycin a is a benzoyl pyrrole-type compound isolated from endophytic bacteria streptomyces mab-quh-8 living in plants of the celastraceae family. celastramycin a exhibited high activity against a series of multiresistent bacteria and mycobacteria [1]. celastramycin a inhibited the growth of gram-positive bacteria and mycobacteria with minimal inhibitory concentration (mic) as low as 0.05 μg/ml [1]. in the ex vivo drosophila culture system, celastramycin a showed a potent immunosuppressive effect with ic50 value of 0.008 μg/ml. in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (huvecs), celastramycin a potently inhibited the production of il-8 with ic50 value of 0.06 μg/ml. so celastramycin a could be used as a lead compound for novel immunosuppressive agents [2].
[1]. pullen c, schmitz p, meurer k, et al. new and bioactive compounds from streptomyces strains residing in the wood of celastraceae. planta. 2002 nov;216(1):162-7.
[2]. kikuchi h, sekiya m, katou y, et al. revised structure and synthesis of celastramycin a, a potent innate immune suppressor. org lett. 2009 apr 16;11(8):1693-5.
