title: Polyamine-dependent production of lymphocytotoxic levels of ammonia by human peripheral blood monocytes.
abstract: The activity of polyamine oxidase down-regulates IL-2 production in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Monocytes are the main source of this enzymatic activity which generates ammonia. We therefore assessed the production of ammonia by human monocytes. We report that human peripheral blood monocytes produce and secrete ammonia and that this activity peaks after 2 days of incubation in vitro. Ammonia production can be suppressed by inhibiting polyamine biosynthesis and polyamine oxidation; thus, the activity of polyamine oxidase in human monocytes generates ammonia. Ammonia production could serve as a measure of polyamine oxidase activity in human monocytes. The levels of ammonia produced in our system reduce human lymphocyte viability. Therefore, ammonia can be added to the list of macrophage products having cytotoxic and immunosuppressive potential.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flescher
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fossum
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Talal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097667:Polyamine Oxidase
chemical_list: D000641:Ammonia; D000518:Eflornithine; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors; D011073:Polyamines; D000097667:Polyamine Oxidase