title: The molecular basis for the differential sensitivity of B and T lymphocytes to growth inhibition by thymidine and 5-fluorouracil.
abstract: Cultured leukemic lymphocytes originating from patients with T, B and non-T, non-B (null) leukemia were tested for their sensitivity to thymidine and 5-fluorouracil. T cells were found to be 5-7 fold more sensitive to thymidine growth inhibition than B-cells. At 10(-3) M concentration of thymidine, T cells showed a progressive (up to 75%) decline in the populating trypan blue-excluding cells, after 72 h. At this concentration of thymidine B cells showed slight inhibition at 24 and 48 h, then at 72 h the surviving cell level returned almost to the level of unperturbed cells. Thymidine at 10(-5) M concentration, caused 40% cell growth inhibition of T cells, however, at this concentration it had little or no effect on B cells. 5-fluorouracil effects on B and T lymphocytes are opposite to that of thymidine. B cells were on an average 5-7 times more sensitive to 5-FU than T cells. 5-FU at 10(-6) M caused up to 45% inhibition of B-cell growth but at this concentration it had no effect on the growth of T cells. B-, T- and null-lymphocytes sensitivity to thymidine and 5-FU was correlated with the level of the catabolic enzyme thymidine phosphorylase. B cells had, on average, 5-fold more thymidine phosphorylase than T or null cells. Furthermore, the enzyme from the B-cell line (HR1K) chromatographed differently on DEAE-Sephadex than the normal peripheral blood lymphocytes enzyme. The normal enzyme from peripheral blood lymphocytes when adsorbed to DEAE-Sephadex was eluted at a salt concentration of 0.3 M KCI, Enzyme activities of HR1K did not adsorb to the DEAE-Sephadex column but were adsorbed to a phosphocellulose column. Enzyme from normal and leukemic lymphocytes showed similar molecular weights of 130,000 dalton as determined by gel filtration.
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008215:Lymphocytes, Null / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase; D005472:Fluorouracil; D013936:Thymidine