Toxicological evaluation of cyclosporin A

Toxicological studies in a variety of different animal species have shown that cyclosporin A (CS-A) is a unique immunosuppressant, since it does not cause myelotoxic, teratogenic, mutagenic, or carcinogenic effects. This is undoubtedly due to the fact CS-A produces its immunosuppressive effects by a specific action on T lymphocytes rather than by a cytotoxic mechanism. The incidence of acute inflammatory lesions was also not significantly higher in treated animals than in controls. Clear-cut organ toxicity only occurred in rats and cynomolgus monkeys, where at high doses nephro- and hepatotoxicity were observed.