E. Consolmagno

The behavior of free purine nucleotides in lymphocytes infected with HIV-1 virus

The purine nucleotide content was examined in various cells before and after HIV-1 virus infection: healthy peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and cultured PBL after infection; the PBL of asymptomatic, ARC and AIDS patients. In all cases, changes in purine nucleotide concentrations were observed. The pattern of purine nucleosides and nucleobases was also evaluated by HPLC in PBL of controls and patients. The analysis was integrated by following the incorporation of a labelled precursor ([14C]formate) into purine nucleotides, which was investigated as an indication of the rate of purine metabolism in these cells. Many interesting variations in the catabolic and of anabolic pathways were observed, demonstrating that the viral penetration affects purine nucleotide metabolism. These results suggest interesting perspectives in AIDS research.

Levels and variability of purine nucleotides in normal human lymphocytes

Anion-exchange, high performance liquid chromatography was used to determine purine nucleotides in lymphocytes of healthy males and females of various ages. We observed a considerable dispersion of values which were unrelated to age or sex, possibly linked to various states of activation of circulating lymphocytes and to other unknown factors.

Purine nucleotide metabolism in lymphocytes of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

Purine nucleotides were studied in human peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal subjects and patients with chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Nucleotide content was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The overall rate of purine nucleotide synthesis was measured following the incorporation of 14C-formate into the nucleotides of a lymphocytic suspension. Results indicate a substantially reduced rate of purine nucleotide metabolism.

Some Aspects of Purine Nucleotide Metabolism in Human Lymphocytes before and after Infection with HIV-1 Virus: Nucleotide Content

The evaluation of intracellular metabolism of purine nucleotides is important in many conditions, during, for example, proliferation, or maturation of the cell -i.e. leukemia and SCID (= severe congenital immunodeficiency)- and can be studied following different procedures: 1) evaluation of purine nucleotide content (1); 2) incorporation of labelled precursors of the purines, e.g. 14C-glycine or 14C-formate with kinetics based on biomathematical models (2); 3) assay of each individual enzymatic activity, involved in the various pathways of purine nucleotide metabolism, the de novo synthesis, the salvage pathway, and the purine nucleotide catabolism (2).

Purine Nucleotide Content in the Leukocytes of Leukemia Patients

Purine nucleotides play an important role in cell life: they are precursors of RNA and DNA, and act as coenzymes and condensers of energy. The evaluation of their metabolism under physiological and pathological conditions is therefore of great interest.

Levels of free purine nucleotides in continuous T-cell lines infected with virus HIV-1

Abstract The purine nucleotide content of H9 lymphoblastoid cell lines shows significant variations after infection with HIV-1 virus. demonstrating; the influence of the virus on purine metabolism in the infected cell.