HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Reduced purine 5'-nucleotidase activity in lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: results of a pilot study.

AbstractOBJECTIVE:
To investigate purine metabolism in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for possible abnormalities that might be related to their overall impaired immune function.
METHODS:
This pilot study included 17 patients with SLE (2 men, 15 women). Enzyme activities of the purine enzymes 5'-nucleotidase (5'NT), purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), and hypoxanthine-guanine-phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and also in fractions of T cells (differentiation antigen CD3+) (n = 12) and B cells (CD19+) (n = 9). The activity of the thiopurine enzyme thiopurine-methyltransferase (TPMT) was measured in red cell lysate. Routine blood tests and indices of disease activity were measured as well. Results were compared with those of healthy volunteers.
RESULTS:
Compared with their controls, the female SLE patients had a more than 50% reduced activity of 5'NT in the T cell fraction (p = 0.001) and in PBMC (p < 0.000). 5'NT activity was also lower in B cells, but this was not statistically significant. Enzyme activities did not correlate with indices of disease activity, disease duration or the B cell/T cell ratio and no influence of medication was found.
CONCLUSION:
Reduced lymphocyte 5'NT activity is a novel finding in SLE. These results indicate that purine metabolism in SLE may be disturbed. Consequences of a low 5'NT activity may be an intracellular accumulation of (deoxy)purine nucleotides and a reduction of adenosine production. It is hypothesised that these factors may play a part in the overall impaired immune function and in the chronicity of inflammation in SLE.
AuthorsJ N Stolk, D G de Koning, A H Pennings, R A De Abreu, L B van de Putte, A M Boerbooms
JournalAnnals of the rheumatic diseases (Ann Rheum Dis) Vol. 58 Issue 2 Pg. 122-5 (Feb 1999) ISSN: 0003-4967 [Print] England
PMID10343529 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Antigens, CD19
  • CD3 Complex
  • Nucleotidases
  • purine 5'-nucleotidase
Topics
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens, CD19
  • B-Lymphocytes (enzymology, immunology)
  • CD3 Complex
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear (enzymology)
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (enzymology, immunology)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nucleotidases (metabolism)
  • Pilot Projects
  • T-Lymphocytes (enzymology, immunology)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: