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Purine pathway enzymes in the circulating malignant cells of patients with cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma
Author(s) -
Blatt Julie,
Bunn Paul A.,
Carney Desmond D.,
Reaman Gregory,
Soprey Pandu,
Poplack David G.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1982.tb03865.x
Subject(s) - purine nucleoside phosphorylase , adenosine deaminase , lymphoblast , 5' nucleotidase , lymphoma , population , enzyme , purine , t cell , immunology , medicine , cutaneous t cell lymphoma , mycosis fungoides , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cell culture , biochemistry , immune system , genetics , environmental health
S ummary . The activities of three purine pathway enzymes—adenosine deaminase (ADA), 5′‐nucleotidase (5′N) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP)—were examined in the circulating malignant cells (Sezary cells) of eight patients with cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL). Cell lines derived from two other patients with CTCL were also studied. These were compared with enzyme activities in peripheral blood T‐lymphocytes from 11 normal donors and six samples of human thymocytes. ADA activities were similar in the Sezary cells and peripheral blood T‐cells (medians 7 U and 15 U, P=0.14), and both of these groups demonstrated significantly lower activity than did the thymocytes (median 100 U, P=0.002). 5′N activity in the Sezary cells was also similar to that of the T‐lymphocytes (median 0.022 U and 0.030 U, P>0.05) and both of these groups had significantly greater activity than did the thymocytes (median 0.002 U, P=0.001). Median PNP activity in the Sezary cell population was also comparable to that measured in normal T‐cells. These findings suggest there is a characteristic purine pathway enzyme pattern in Sezary cells that is similar to that seen in normal T‐lymphocytes. This pattern is clearly distinguishable from that of thymocytes and from that previously described in lymphoblasts from patients with T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. These results support the concept that Sezary cells are well‐differentiated with respect to the T‐cell axis. Quantitation of purine pathway enzymes may be useful in defining subsets of T‐cell malignancy.