Beverly S. Mitchell, M.D.
Publication Details
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Purinogenic immunodeficiency diseases: selective toxicity of deoxyribonucleosides for T cells.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1978; (10): 5011-4
Deoxyadenosine at low concentrations and in the presence of an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase (adenosine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.4) is markedly toxic to lymphoblast cell lines of T cell origin but does not impair growth of B cell lines. Deoxyguanosine is also more toxic for T lymphoblasts. In the presence of deoxyadenosine or deoxyguanosine, elevation of the corresponding deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dATP or dGTP) occurs in T cell, but not in B cell, lines. The addition of deoxycytidine or dipyridamole results in lower dATP and dGTP levels and prevents deoxyribonucleoside toxicity. These findings provide a molecular basis for the immunodeficiency observed in individuals with several inborn errors of purine metabolism.

