pentostatin and Disease-Models--Animal

Topics: Adult; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Burkitt Lymphoma; Cats; Cattle; Cell Differentiation; Chickens; Child; Coformycin; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Interleukin-2; Japan; Leukemia; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Lymphoma; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred AKR; Pentostatin; T-Lymphocytes

When Zika virus emerged as a public health emergency there were no drugs or vaccines approved for its prevention or treatment. We used a high-throughput screen for Zika virus protease inhibitors to identify several inhibitors of Zika virus infection. We expressed the NS2B-NS3 Zika virus protease and conducted a biochemical screen for small-molecule inhibitors. A quantitative structure-activity relationship model was employed to virtually screen ∼138,000 compounds, which increased the identification of active compounds, while decreasing screening time and resources. Candidate inhibitors were validated in several viral infection assays. Small molecules with favorable clinical profiles, especially the five-lipoxygenase-activating protein inhibitor, MK-591, inhibited the Zika virus protease and infection in neural stem cells. Members of the tetracycline family of antibiotics were more potent inhibitors of Zika virus infection than the protease, suggesting they may have multiple mechanisms of action. The most potent tetracycline, methacycline, reduced the amount of Zika virus present in the brain and the severity of Zika virus-induced motor deficits in an immunocompetent mouse model. As Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, the tetracyclines could be quickly translated to the clinic. The compounds identified through our screening paradigm have the potential to be used as prophylactics for patients traveling to endemic regions or for the treatment of the neurological complications of Zika virus infection.

Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Artificial Intelligence; Chlorocebus aethiops; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Immunocompetence; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Methacycline; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Protease Inhibitors; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; Small Molecule Libraries; Vero Cells; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection

The activity of a cell-surface ecto-adenosine deaminase (eADA) is markedly increased in the endothelial activation and vascular inflammation leading to decreased adenosine concentration and alterations in adenosine signalling. Depending on the specific pathway activated, extracellular purines mediate host cell response or regulate growth and cytotoxicity on tumour cells. The aim of this study was to test the effects of adenosine deaminase inhibition by 2'deoxycoformycin (dCF) on the breast cancer development. dCF treatment decreased a tumour growth and a final tumour mass in female BALB/c mice injected orthotopically with 4T1 cancer cells. dCF also counteracted cancer-induced endothelial dysfunction in orthotopic and intravenous 4T1 mouse breast cancer models. In turn, this low dCF dose had a minor effect on immune stimulation exerted by 4T1 cell implantation. In vitro studies revealed that dCF suppressed migration and invasion of 4T1 cells via A2a and A3 adenosine receptor activation as well as 4T1 cell adhesion and transmigration through the endothelial cell layer via A2a receptor stimulation. Similar effects of dCF were observed in human breast cancer cells. Moreover, dCF improved a barrier function of endothelial cells decreasing its permeability. This study highlights beneficial effects of adenosine deaminase inhibition on breast cancer development. The inhibition of adenosine deaminase activity by dCF reduced tumour size that was closely related to the decreased aggressiveness of tumour cells by adenosine receptor-dependent mechanisms and endothelial protection.

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Animals; Cell Adhesion; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Membrane; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Endothelial Cells; Extracellular Space; Female; Humans; Mammary Neoplasms, Animal; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Nucleotides; Pentostatin; Phenotype; Receptors, Purinergic P1; Transendothelial and Transepithelial Migration

Extracellular nucleotides and adenosine that are formed or degraded by membrane-bound ecto-enzymes could affect atherosclerosis by regulating the inflammation and thrombosis. This study aimed to evaluate a relation between ecto-enzymes that convert extracellular adenosine triphosphate to adenine dinucleotide phosphate, adenosine monophosphate, adenosine, and inosine on the surface of the vessel wall with the severity or progression of experimental and clinical atherosclerosis. Furthermore, we tested whether the inhibition of adenosine deaminase will block the development of experimental atherosclerosis.. Vascular activities of ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1, ecto-5'-nucleotidase, and ecto-adenosine deaminase (eADA) were measured in aortas of apolipoprotein E-/- low density lipoprotein receptor (ApoE-/-LDLR-/-) and wild-type mice as well as in human aortas. Plaques were analysed in the entire aorta, aortic root, and brachiocephalic artery by Oil-Red O and Orcein Martius Scarlet Blue staining and vascular accumulation of macrophages. The cellular location of ecto-enzymes was analysed by immunofluorescence. The effect of eADA inhibition on atherosclerosis progression was studied by a 2-month deoxycoformycin treatment of ApoE-/-LDLR-/- mice. The vascular eADA activity prominently increased in ApoE-/-LDLR-/- mice when compared with wild type already at the age of 1 month and progressed along atherosclerosis development, reaching a 10-fold difference at 10 months. The activity of eADA correlated with atherosclerotic changes in human aortas. High abundance of eADA in atherosclerotic vessels originated from activated endothelial cells and macrophages. There were no changes in ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 activity, whereas ecto-5'-nucleotidase was moderately decreased in ApoE-/-LDLR-/- mice. Deoxycoformycin treatment attenuated plaque development in aortic root and brachiocephalic artery of ApoE-/-LDLR-/- mice, suppressed vascular inflammation and improved endothelial function.. This study highlights the importance of extracellular nucleotides and adenosine metabolism in the atherosclerotic vessel in both experimental and clinical setting. The increased eADA activity marks an early stage of atherosclerosis, contributes to its progression and could represent a novel target for therapy.

Topics: Adenosine; Adenosine Deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Animals; Aorta; Apolipoproteins E; Atherosclerosis; Cells, Cultured; Disease Models, Animal; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Pentostatin; Receptors, LDL

Immunotoxins are targeted anticancer therapeutics that kill cancer cells using a cytotoxic bacterial toxin payload. Their development for use in solid tumor malignancies was delayed due to issues with their immunogenicity and limited therapeutic window. However, new research has rejuvenated the field. Coadministration with a lymphocyte-depleting regimen of pentostatin and cyclophosphamide can delay antidrug antibody formation, increasing the number of treatment cycles that patients can receive and resulting in durable responses in heavily pretreated patients. In addition, a new generation of immunotoxin molecules with reduced immunogenicity and nonspecific toxicity has been developed through protein engineering techniques, and one has recently entered the clinic. In preclinical studies in mouse models, these new agents are effective against many tumor types as single agents, and also produce synergistic antitumor responses in combination with chemotherapy. These new immunotoxins have renewed excitement in the field and may prove a promising addition to the targeted therapy repertoire.

Topics: ADP Ribose Transferases; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Neoplasm; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bacterial Toxins; Cyclophosphamide; Disease Models, Animal; Exotoxins; Humans; Immunotherapy; Lymphocytes; Mesothelioma; Mice; Pentostatin; Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A; Virulence Factors

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that inhibition of adenosine deaminase (ADA) enhances the efficiency of signal-transduction of myocardial A1 adenosine receptors in hyperthyroidism. The inotropic response to N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), a selective A1 adenosine receptor agonist resistant to ADA, was investigated in the absence or presence of erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA), an ADA and cGMP-stimulated 3',5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE2) inhibitor, or of pentostatin (2'-deoxycoformycin; DCF), an exclusive ADA inhibitor, in left atria isolated from eu- or hyperthyroid guinea pigs. Both ADA inhibitors enhanced the effect of CPA only in hyperthyroid atria. EHNA significantly increased the Emax (mean+/-S.E.M.) from 83.8+/-1.2% to 93.4+/-1.2%, while DCF significantly decreased the logEC50 from -7.5+/-0.07 to -7.83+/-0.07 in hyperthyroid samples. Conversely, EHNA also diminished the logEC50 (from -7.5+/-0.07 to -7.65+/-0.07) and DCF also raised the Emax (from 83.8+/-1.2% to 85.7+/-2%) in hyperthyroidism, but these changes were not significant. In conclusion, ADA inhibition moderately but significantly enhanced the efficiency of A(1) adenosine receptor signaling pathway in the hyperthyroid guinea pig atrium. This suggests that elevated intracellular adenosine level caused by ADA inhibition may improve the suppressed responsiveness to A1 adenosine receptor agonists associated with the hyperthyroid state. Alternatively or in addition, the role of decreased concentration of adenosine degradation products cannot be excluded. Furthermore, in the case of EHNA, inhibition of PDE2 also appears to contribute to the enhanced A1 adenosine receptor signaling in the hyperthyroid guinea pig atrium.

Topics: Adenine; Adenosine; Adenosine A1 Receptor Agonists; Adenosine Deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Animals; Benzyl Compounds; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 2; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Inhibitors; Guinea Pigs; Heart Atria; Hyperthyroidism; Inosine; Male; Myocardial Contraction; Pentostatin; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; Receptor, Adenosine A1; Signal Transduction; Thyroxine

We sought to determine the potential usefulness of 2'-deoxycoformycin (pentostatin), an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, as a postinsult, or prophylactic treatment for systemic inflammatory response syndrome resulting from fecal peritonitis.. Prospective, randomized, controlled experiment.. Small animal basic science laboratory.. Male Spague-Dawley rats, weighing 300 to 350 g.. Rats with fecal peritonitis (intraperitoneal cecal slurry) were treated with 1 mg/kg pentostatin intraperitoneally 24 hrs before, or intravenously when signs of illness presented (2 hrs after induction of peritonitis). Signs of illness included tachycardia, tachypnea, and leukopenia. All rats received 50 mL/kg 0.9% saline resuscitative fluid at 2 hrs.. Survival to day 6 was 100% in nonseptic sham rats, but 33% in untreated septic rats. In rats given pentostatin either 2 hrs after the insult, or 24 hrs before the insult, 6-day survival improved to 81% and 78%, respectively. Histology revealed diffuse peritonitis, and evidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, including local and distant site vascular damage and leukocyte activation. These responses to the septic challenge were abrogated by pentostatin treatment. Return of significant amount of tissue adenosine deaminase activity by 24 hrs and later recovery of white blood cell counts argue against any potential for inappropriate immunosuppression by pentostatin.. These data indicate that the novel use of pentostatin to prevent systemic inflammatory response syndrome secondary to fecal peritonitis shows uncommon promise as a therapeutic tool. All indices of systemic inflammatory response syndrome were abrogated and survival improved when pentostatin was not given until after signs of the illness became manifest. Because protection was afforded with treatment 24 hrs in advance of the inciting insult, pentostatin also has the unique potential for use as a true prophylactic agent.

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Feces; Immunosuppressive Agents; Infusions, Intravenous; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Leukocyte Count; Male; Pentostatin; Peritonitis; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Survival Analysis; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome; Time Factors

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

The antifungal activity of the nucleoside analog 3'-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin) was studied in a murine model of invasive candidiasis. When protected from deamination by either deoxycoformycin or coformycin, both of which are adenosine deaminase inhibitors, cordycepin exhibited potent antifungal efficacy, as demonstrated by prolongation of survival and a decrease in CFU in the kidneys of mice treated with cordycepin plus an adenosine deaminase inhibitor. The antifungal effect was seen with three different Candida isolates: Candida albicans 64, a relatively fluconazole-resistant clinical isolate of C. albicans (MIC, 16 micrograms/ml), and the fluconazole-resistant Candida krusei. Cordycepin and related compounds may provide another avenue for the discovery of clinically useful antifungal drugs.

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Animals; Antifungal Agents; Candidiasis; Deoxyadenosines; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Interactions; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Enzyme Inhibitors; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Pentostatin; Survival Analysis

In order to examine the relationship between local adenosine concentrations before, during, and after ischemia and the extent of ischemic myocardial damage, measurements of interstitial fluid (ISF) nucleosides were made using microdialysis probes implanted in the ischemic region of isoflurane anesthetized Micropigs undergoing 60' coronary artery occlusion (CAO) and 3 h of reperfusion (REP). Nucleoside concentrations in the dialysate collected from the microdialysis probes were used as an index of ISF levels. Dialysate nucleoside concentrations (ADO, inosine and hypoxanthine), myocardial infarct size, and myocardial blood flow (MBF) were determined in control animals (n = 6), animals preconditioned with a single 10' cycle of CAO and REP (PC, n = 6), and those treated with the adenosine deaminase inhibitor pentostatin (n = 6, 0.2 mg/Kg i.v. 30' prior to CAO). The brief PC occlusion resulted in a transient but significant increase in dialysate ADO (6.7 +/- 1.8 microM vs. 0.67 +/- 0.1 microM at baseline). Pentostatin administration had no significant effect on either dialysate nucleosides or MBF at baseline. During the 60' CAO, dialysate ADO increased in control animals. In PC animals, however, dialysate ADO during CAO was lower than control. Pretreatment with pentostatin resulted in a six-fold augmentation in dialysate ADO during the 60 min CAO when compared to the control values (110.62 +/- 30.2 microM vs. 16.31 +/- 2.1 microM at 60 min of ischemia). Pentostatin also resulted in a significant reduction in the accumulation of inosine and hypoxanthine, indicating inhibition of adenosine deaminase activity. There were no significant differences in MBF between groups at any time point. Following 3 h REP, infarct size was 35.4 +/- 5.5%, 8.1 +/- 1.5% and 8.3 +/- 1.8% of the region at risk in control, PC, and pentostatin groups, respectively. These data suggest that marked increase in ISF ADO during CAO, may be as effective in reducing INF as a modest increase in ISF ADO prior to prolonged CAO.

Topics: Adenosine; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Animals; Blood Flow Velocity; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme Inhibitors; Extracellular Space; Female; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial; Male; Microdialysis; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Ischemia; Pentostatin; Swine; Swine, Miniature

Because of ontogenic influences on the pathophysiologic mechanisms of brain injury in the perinatal brain, and in particular, the incomplete development of adenosine receptor systems, we investigated the potential for adenosine to provide cerebro-protection in a well established newborn rat model of hypoxia-ischemia. Fifteen litters of postnatal d 7 animals were subjected to unilateral carotid ligation and exposure to hypoxia (8% oxygen) for 3 h. Immediately after hypoxia-ischemia, animals received either the adenosine deaminase inhibitor deoxycoformycin (DCF; 2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally) or the adenosine uptake inhibitor propentofylline (PPF; 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally); paired littermates received an equivalent volume of normal saline. On postnatal d 14, injury or protection was assessed by differences in hemispheric weights, morphometric determinations of infarct area, and histopathologic analyses. DCF resulted in a 34% (p = 0.02) and 31% (p = 0.03) reduction in hemispheric weight disparities and infarct area, respectively; for PPF, these reductions were 46% (p = 0.03) and 32% (p = 0.04), respectively. Light microscopic examinations of striatum, thalamus, hippocampus, and cortex revealed that both drugs significantly improved histologic scores as well. Measurements in six separate litters indicated that neither drug significantly reduced core body temperature for at least 6 h postadministration. These findings indicate that potentiation of endogenous adenosine levels in the perinatal brain can significantly ameliorate brain injury. Each of these treatment strategies was effective even when administered after the hypoxic-ischemic insult. Thus, further investigations of adenosinergic therapies are warranted in this and other perinatal models of cerebral ischemia to elucidate in detail their potential for clinical application.

Topics: Adenosine; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Body Temperature; Brain; Brain Ischemia; Disease Models, Animal; Dizocilpine Maleate; Enzyme Inhibitors; Neuroprotective Agents; Organ Size; Pentostatin; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Xanthines

The effect of the adenosine deaminase (ADA) inhibitor 2'-deoxycoformycin (dCF) on the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) was assessed in the BB Wistar rat. Sixty-one male rats were treated from days 30 to 120 with 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mg dCF/kg/week. The incidence of IDDM was 78% in the controls and was significantly (P < 0.01) decreased in rats receiving 1.5 mg dCF/kg/week (32%), but not in rats receiving lower doses of the drug. However, for those rats that became diabetic the mean time to the development of IDDM was unchanged in animals receiving dCF compared with control. dCF treatment did not produce significant weight loss in the animals or gross changes in the thymus, spleen or kidneys. Although the protective effect of dCF against IDDM was likely produced by immunosuppression, the different dCF dosages had similar effects on ADA suppression in spleen or thymus and on dATP accumulation in these organs.

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Animals; Deoxyadenine Nucleotides; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Male; Organ Size; Pentostatin; Rats; Rats, Inbred BB; Spleen; Thymus Gland

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Animals; Cartilage; Cell Survival; Deoxyadenosines; Disease Models, Animal; In Vitro Techniques; Mice; Osteochondrodysplasias; Pentostatin; Swine

Adult AKR/J mice were treated with 10 micrograms/g or 100 micrograms/g 2'-deoxycoformycin, an adenosine deaminase inhibitor with chemotherapeutic potential. The thymus and adrenal glands were decreased in weight more than any other organ. Histologic and cytofluorographic analyses indicated preferential depletion of peanut-agglutinin-positive, cortical thymocytes, as well as acute, dose-dependent damage to the adrenal cortex and medulla. The effect of 2'-deoxycoformycin on the thymus was proven to be independent of the adrenal glands by use of adrenalectomized mice. Dose-dependent liver necrosis, hemolysis, and leukemoid reactivity were observed. These findings illustrate a differential sensitivity of thymocyte subpopulations and suggest, in addition, preferential sensitivity of certain nonlymphoid tissues to 2'-deoxycoformycin administered in vivo.

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase; Adrenal Glands; Animals; Body Weight; Coformycin; Disease Models, Animal; Erythrocyte Count; Female; Kidney; Liver; Lymph Nodes; Mice; Mice, Inbred AKR; Nucleoside Deaminases; Organ Size; Pentostatin; Ribonucleosides; Spleen; T-Lymphocytes; Thymus Gland

The accumulation of deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP) in erythrocytes of mice treated with the adenosine deaminase inhibitor deoxycoformycin was studied in an attempt to establish and evaluate a model system for the study of at least some biochemical aspects of hereditary adenosine deaminase deficiency. Mouse erythrocytes in vitro readily phosphorylated deoxyadenosine to dATP, and this nucleotide was relatively stable once formed. dATP accumulated in vivo in mice treated with deoxycoformycin both as a function of dose from 0.25 to 10 mg/kg, and with time after administration. Major sources of the deoxyadenosine used for dATP formation in vivo appear to be normoblast nuclei produced during erythropoiesis, and dying cells; minor sources would appear to include dietary DNA, overproduction of deoxyribonucleotides, and DNA repair.

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Animals; Coformycin; Deoxyadenine Nucleotides; Disease Models, Animal; Erythrocytes; Mice; Nucleoside Deaminases; Pentostatin; Ribonucleosides

An in vivo murine model for immunodeficiency of both B and T cells is produced by continuous intraperitoneal infusion of 2'-deoxycoformycin (DCF), a specific tightly binding inhibitor of adenosine deaminase (ADase; adenosine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.4). After DCF infusion, ADase of thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes was inhibited to varying degrees ranging from 57% to 100%. Immunodeficiency under these conditions was indicated by: (i) a striking decrease in lymphocyte response to the T-cell mitogens concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin; (ii) an impairment of delayed hypersensitivity measured by the footpad reaction; (iii) a decrease in antibody production measured in both in vivo and in vitro plaque-forming cell assay; (iv) a significant prolongation of mouse skin allograft survival after transplantation into the C57BL/6J (H-2b) strain of skin from BALB/c (H-2d) mice; and (v) a marked lymphopenia. Histological examination indicated lymphoid degeneration in the thymus, lymph nodes, and spleen with no alterations in other tissues including bone marrow, kidney, lung, gastrointestinal tract, and liver except for the occurrence of hepatitis. A decrease in the number of Thy-1-positive cells in both spleen and lymph nodes further supported the fact of cytotoxicity of DCF to T cells. Anorexia and weight loss were observed within 5 days of continuous DCF infusion at 0.4 mg/kg body weight per day. These data indicate that this method provides an experimental model for future studies on the biochemical mechanisms responsible for the genetically determined severe combined immunodeficiency disease in man.

Topics: Adenosine; Adenosine Deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Animals; Antibody Formation; B-Lymphocytes; Coformycin; Disease Models, Animal; Immunity, Cellular; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Mice; Nucleoside Deaminases; Pentostatin; Ribonucleosides; T-Lymphocytes