Gliotoxin

Gliotoxin is a sulfur-containing antibiotic produced by some unrelated species of pathogenic fungi, such as Aspergillus, Trichoderma, and Penicillium, and by the yeast Candida. It was originally isolated from Gliocladium fimbriatum, and was named accordingly. It is an epipolythiodioxopiperazine metabilite.

Gliotoxin possesses immunosuppressive properties as it may suppress and cause apoptosis in certain types of cells of the immune system, including neutrophils, eosinophils, and granulocytes. Causes apoptosis in macrophages and thymocytes. It also acts as an inhibitor of farnesyl transferase. It noncompetitively inhibits the chymotrypsin-like activity of the 20S proteasome. In vivo it displays anti-inflammatory activity. It acts by blocking thiol groups in the cell membranes.