pentostatin and 5--amino-5--deoxyadenosine

The differentiation-inducing effect of clinically applicable analogs of deoxyadenosine on myelomonocytic leukemia cells was examined. Monocytoid leukemia cells were more sensitive to the analogs than were erythroid or myeloid leukemia cells based on the inhibition of cell growth and induction of cell differentiation. Monocytoid leukemia cells were highly sensitive to combined treatment with 2'-deoxycoformycin (dCF) and 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine (Ara A) for inducing cell differentiation. Ara A induced the differentiation of monocytoid leukemia U937 and THP-1 cells at concentrations which were 1/1000-10000 of that at which it induced the differentiation of other cell lines in the presence of dCF. In combination with a low concentration of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3), the induction of the monocytic differentiation was greater in monoblastic U937 cells. Adenosine deaminase-resistant analogs such as fludarabine (FLU) and cladribine (CdA) also induced the differentiation of human myelomonocytic leukemia cells, and these analogs synergistically enhanced the differentiation induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or VD3. CdA was the most potent analog for inducing the differentiation of myeloid leukemia NB4 and HL-60 cells in the presence or absence of ATRA. These findings indicate that dCF + Ara A and CdA may be effective for the therapy of acute monocytoid and myeloid leukemia, respectively.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Calcitriol; Cell Differentiation; Cladribine; Deoxyadenosines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Enzyme Inhibitors; HL-60 Cells; Humans; K562 Cells; Leukemia, Myeloid; Monocytes; Neoplasm Proteins; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Pentostatin; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured; U937 Cells; Vidarabine

Because micromolar concentrations of adenosine (Ado) have been documented recently in the interstitial fluid of carcinomas growing in animals, we examined the effects of low concentrations of Ado on the growth of cultured human carcinoma cells. Ado alone had little effect upon cell growth. In the presence of one of a number of Ado deaminase (ADA) inhibitors, Ado led to significant growth inhibition of all cell lines tested. Similar effects were found when ATP, ADP, or AMP was substituted for Ado. Surprisingly, the ADA inhibitor coformycin (CF) had a much greater potentiating effect than did 2'-deoxycoformycin (DCF), although DCF is a more potent ADA inhibitor. The growth inhibition of the Ado/CF combination was not abrogated by pyrimidines or caffeine, a nonspecific Ado receptor blocker. Toxicity was prevented by the addition of the Ado transport inhibitor dipyridamole or the Ado kinase inhibitor 5'-amino 5'-deoxyadenosine. S-Adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase is not involved because neither homocysteine thiolactone nor an S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase inhibitor (adenosine dialdehyde) potentiated toxicity of the Ado/CF combination. Unexpectedly, substitution of 2'-deoxyadenosine (the toxic moiety in congenital ADA deficiency) for Ado, did not lead to equivalent toxicity. The Ado/CF combination inhibited DNA synthesis and brought about morphological changes consistent with apoptosis. Together, these findings indicate that the Ado-mediated killing proceeds via an intracellular route that requires the action of Ado kinase. The enhanced cofactor activity of CF may be attributable to its being a more potent inhibitor of AMP deaminase than is DCF.

Topics: Adenine; Adenosine; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Adenosine Kinase; Apoptosis; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Division; Cell Survival; Coformycin; Deoxyadenosines; Dipyridamole; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Humans; Kinetics; Ovarian Neoplasms; Pentostatin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The present study examined the effects of local subcutaneous administration of formalin on adenosine release from the rat hind paw, and the effects of inhibitors of adenosine metabolism on such release. Microdialysis probes were inserted into the subcutaneous tissue of the plantar surface of rat hind paws. Samples were collected every 10 min at a perfusion rate of 2 microl/min and high performance liquid chromatography was used to measure adenosine levels. At lower concentrations of formalin (0.5-2.5%), a significant increase in adenosine levels was observed in the first 10 min after formalin injection, while at the highest concentration of formalin (5%), the increase in adenosine release was observed over 60 min. Co-administration of the adenosine kinase inhibitor 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine (100 nmol) with formalin, significantly increased adenosine release evoked by 0.5-1.5% formalin, but did not produce a further enhancement of release evoked by 5% formalin. The adenosine deaminase inhibitor 2'-deoxycoformycin (100 nmol) significantly increased adenosine levels at 5% formalin but had no effect at lower concentrations of formalin. In confirmation of previous studies, subcutaneous injection of formalin (0.5-5%) produced a characteristic biphasic concentration-related expression of nociceptive behaviours and an increase in paw volume. This study directly demonstrates that formalin can evoke a concentration-dependent local release of adenosine from the rat hind paw. The ability of an adenosine kinase inhibitor and an adenosine deaminase inhibitor to modulate this release is dependent on substrate adenosine concentrations.

Topics: Adenosine; Adenosine Deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Adenosine Kinase; Animals; Deoxyadenosines; Fixatives; Formaldehyde; Hindlimb; Male; Microdialysis; Pain Measurement; Pentostatin; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Spinal administration of an adenosine kinase inhibitor, alone or in combination with an adenosine deaminase inhibitor, produces antinociception in inflammatory pain tests. In the present study, we examined the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects produced by the peripheral (intraplantar) administration of 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine (an adenosine kinase inhibitor), 2'-deoxycoformycin (an adenosine deaminase inhibitor), and combinations of both agents in the carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia and paw oedema model in the rat. When injected in the ipsilateral paw immediately prior to carrageenan injection, both agents produced antinociception only at the highest dose (1 micromol), whereas a reduction in paw swelling was evident at a lower dose (300 nmol). Significant augmentation in both the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects was seen when 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine and 2'-deoxycoformycin were co-administered in equimolar doses at all dose levels. Both effects were mediated via activation of adenosine receptors, as indicated by blockade by an adenosine receptor antagonist. When administered into the contralateral paw, 1 micromol 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine+1 micromol 2'-deoxycoformycin produced prominent antinociception, indicating a systemic drug activity. There was only a modest reduction in paw oedema in the carrageenan-injected (ipsilateral) paw, suggesting that much of this activity was locally mediated. Reversal of systemic effects on thermal thresholds by an intrathecal adenosine receptor antagonist implicates a spinal site of action in this instance. An ipsilateral administration of 1 micromol 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine, but not 1 micromol 2'-deoxycoformycin, reduced carrageenan-induced c-Fos expression in the spinal dorsal horn, and this was further reduced by the peripheral co-injection of the two agents. These results provide evidence for a predominantly spinal antinociceptive effect and a predominantly peripheral anti-inflammatory effect produced by inhibitors of adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase.

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Adenosine Kinase; Analgesics; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Caffeine; Carrageenan; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Deoxyadenosines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Edema; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hindlimb; Hyperalgesia; Injections, Spinal; Male; Nociceptors; Pain; Pentostatin; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Spinal Cord; Theobromine; Time Factors

This study examined the ability of an adenosine kinase inhibitor (5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine; NH2dAD), an adenosine deaminase inhibitor (2'-deoxycoformycin), and combinations of these agents to produce a peripheral modulation of the pain signal in the low concentration formalin model. Drugs were administered in combination with 0.5% formalin, or into the contralateral hindpaw to test for systemic effects, and episodes of flinching behaviors determined. Coadministration of NH2dAD 0.1-100 nmol with formalin produced antinociception as revealed by an inhibition of flinching behaviors. This action was peripherally mediated as it was not seen following contralateral administration of the NH2dAD, and was due to accumulation of adenosine and activation of cell surface adenosine receptors as it was blocked by the adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine. Antinociception was intensity-dependent, as it was not seen when higher concentrations of formalin (0.75%, 1.5%) were used. The coadministration of the selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dimethylxanthine revealed the presence of an inhibitory tone of adenosine when the intrinsic antinociceptive effect of NH2dAD was obscured by the solvent or the stimulus intensity. 2'-Deoxycoformycin 0.1-100 nmol did not produce any intrinsic effect, but 100 nmol coadministered with low concentrations of NH2dAD, which lacked an intrinsic effect, augmented antinociception by NH2dAD. Again, this was a peripheral rather than a systemic response. The combined action of the adenosine kinase and deaminase inhibitors was completely reversed by coadministration of caffeine. Antinociception with NH2dAD is observed at higher concentrations of formalin in second trial experiments. This study demonstrates a peripheral antinociceptive action mediated by endogenous adenosine which accumulates following the peripheral inhibition of adenosine kinase; this action is due to activation of an adenosine A1 receptor.

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Adenosine Kinase; Animals; Deoxyadenosines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Inhibitors; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Pain; Pain Measurement; Pentostatin; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The present study examined the spinal antinociceptive effects of adenosine analogs and inhibitors of adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase in the carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia model in the rat. The possible enhancement of the antinociceptive effects of adenosine kinase inhibitors by an adenosine deaminase inhibitor also was investigated. Unilateral hindpaw inflammation was induced by an intraplantar injection of lambda carrageenan (2 mg/100 microl), which consistently produced significant paw swelling and thermal hyperalgesia. Drugs were administered intrathecally, either by acute percutaneous lumbar puncture (individual agents and combinations) or via an intrathecal catheter surgically implanted 7-10 days prior to drug testing (antagonist experiments). N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA; adenosine A1 receptor agonist; 0.01-1 nmol), 2-[p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenylethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenos ine (CGS21680; adenosine A2A receptor agonist; 0.1-10 nmol), 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine (NH2dAdo; adenosine kinase inhibitor: 10-300 nmol), and 5-iodotubercidin (ITU; adenosine kinase inhibitor; 0.1-100 nmol) produced, to varying extents, dose-dependent antinociception. No analgesia was seen following injection of 2'-deoxycoformycin (dCF; an adenosine deaminase inhibitor; 100-300 nmol). Reversal of drug effects by caffeine (non-selective adenosine A1/A2 receptor antagonist; 515 nmol) confirmed the involvement of the adenosine receptor, while antagonism by 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dimethylxanthine (CPT; adenosine A1 receptor antagonist; 242 nmol), but not 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX; adenosine A2A receptor antagonist; 242 nmol), evidenced an adenosine A1 receptor mediated spinal antinociception by NH2dAdo. dCF (100 nmol), which was inactive by itself, enhanced the effects of 10 nmol and 30 nmol NH2dAdo. Enhancement of the antinociceptive effect of ITU by dCF was less pronounced. None of the antinociceptive drug regimens had any effect on paw swelling. These results demonstrate that both directly and indirectly acting adenosine agents, when administered spinally, produce antinociception through activation of spinal adenosine A1 receptors in an inflammatory model of thermal hyperalgesia. The spinal antinociceptive effects of selected adenosine kinase inhibitors can be significantly augmented when administered simultaneously with an adenosine deaminase inhibitor.

Topics: Adenosine; Adenosine Deaminase; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents; Carrageenan; Deoxyadenosines; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; Edema; Enzyme Inhibitors; Excipients; Hot Temperature; Hyperalgesia; Male; Neuritis; Neurons; Nociceptors; Pentostatin; Phenethylamines; Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tubercidin

Activation of glutamate receptors triggers the release of adenosine, which exerts important inhibitory actions in the brain. Evoked adenosine release is potentiated when either adenosine kinase or adenosine deaminase are inhibited. We studied the effects of concurrent inhibition of adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-evoked formation of extracellular adenosine in slices of rat parietal cortex, to determine if combinations of inhibitors of adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase can produce supra-additive potentiation of this adenosine formation. Combinations of low concentrations of the adenosine kinase inhibitors 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine (0.2 microM) or 5'-iodotubercidin (0.01 microM) with a low concentration of the adenosine deaminase inhibitor 2'-deoxycoformycin (0.2 microM) produced additive potentiations of NMDA-evoked adenosine release from slices of rat parietal cortex. However, combinations of low concentrations of 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine (0.2 microM) or 5'-iodotubercidin (0.01 microM) with a maximal concentration of 2'-deoxycoformycin (200 microM) produced supra-additive potentiation of NMDA-evoked adenosine release. These findings suggest that such combinations of adenosine kinase inhibitors with adenosine deaminase inhibitors may provide useful strategies for developing therapies to treat disorders associated with excessive NMDA receptor activation, such as seizures, ischemic damage and neurodegenerative diseases.

Topics: Adenosine; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Adenosine Kinase; Animals; Cerebral Cortex; Deoxyadenosines; Drug Synergism; Enzyme Inhibitors; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; Male; N-Methylaspartate; Pentostatin; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Tubercidin

Inhibitors of adenosine kinase, but not adenosine deaminase, produce antinociception when administered spinally. In this study, we evaluated the relative contribution of adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase to the regulation of adenosine release into the extracellular space within the spinal cord by determining the effects of the adenosine kinase inhibitors 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine and 5-iodotubercidin, and the adenosine deaminase inhibitor 2'-deoxycoformycin on adenosine release from spinal cord slices in an in vitro perfusion system. Both 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine (5-50 microM) and 5-iodotubercidin (5-50 microM), but not 2'-deoxycoformycin (50 microM), augmented adenosine release. 5-Iodotubercidin was slightly more potent and effective than 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine in augmenting release except at the highest concentration, where it was considerably more effective. Combinations of 2'-deoxycoformycin (50 microM) and minimally active concentrations of 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine and 5-iodotubercidin (5 microM each) produced a synergistic enhancement of release. These results support a predominant involvement of adenosine kinase in regulating extracellular adenosine levels in the spinal cord, but adenosine deaminase also can play a significant role.

Topics: Adenosine; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Adenosine Kinase; Animals; Deoxyadenosines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Inhibitors; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Pentostatin; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Spinal Cord; Tubercidin

Spinal administration of adenosine analogs and an adenosine kinase inhibitor produces antinociception in thermal threshold tests. In the present study, we determined the effects of N6-cyclohexyladenosine (adenosine A1 receptor selective), 2-[p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenylethylamino]-5'-N-ethyl-carboxamidoadeno sine (CGS-21680) (adenosine A2A receptor selective), and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) (non-selective), on formalin induced nociceptive responses (flinching/lifting and licking/biting) using two concentrations of formalin (2% and 5%). We also examined the antinociceptive effects of 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine, an adenosine kinase inhibitor, and deoxycoformycin, an adenosine deaminase inhibitor, under these conditions. Adenosine A1 receptor agonists, but not the A2A selective agent, produced significant antinociception, as did 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine, but not deoxycoformycin. The extent of antinociception produced was greater with the lower stimulus intensity. The effects of NECA and 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine were inhibited by caffeine, indicating the involvement of cell surface adenosine receptors in their actions. We conclude (a) that the adenosine A1, but not the A2A, receptor is involved in spinally mediated antinociception, (b) that adenosine kinase is more important than adenosine deaminase in regulating endogenous adenosine levels in the spinal cord, and (c) that stimulus intensity is an important determinant of the efficacy of purines in the spinal cord.

Topics: Adenosine; Adenosine Kinase; Adenosine-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamide); Analgesics; Animals; Caffeine; Deoxyadenosines; Enzyme Inhibitors; Formaldehyde; Male; Pentostatin; Phenethylamines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Purinergic P1

Relative involvement of adenosine deaminase and adenosine kinase in antinociception induced by endogenous adenosine was investigated. Antinociception induced by 5'-amino 5'-deoxyadenosine (5'-ADAdo; an adenosine kinase inhibitor) and deoxycoformycin (dCF; an adenosine deaminase inhibitor) administered i.t. was determined using the mouse tail-flick assay. Dose- and time-dependent antinociception was observed following i.t. administration of 5'-ADAdo, but not dCF. Antinociception induced by 5'-ADAdo was reversed by coadministration i.t. of theophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist, in a dose-dependent manner. These data provide preliminary evidence that adenosine kinase plays a more significant physiological role than adenosine deaminase in the regulation of adenosine involved in spinally-mediated antinociception.

Topics: Adenosine; Adenosine Deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Adenosine Kinase; Animals; Deoxyadenosines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Male; Mice; Nociceptors; Pain Measurement; Pentostatin; Spinal Cord; Time Factors