title: Inhibition of IMP dehydrogenase by mycophenolic acid in Molt F4 human malignant lymphoblasts.
abstract: The effects of inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), the rate-limiting enzyme in guanine nucleotide de novo synthesis, on cell growth, cell viability, endogenous nucleotide concentrations and concentrations of extracellular nucleosides and bases were studied in Molt F4 human malignant lymphoblasts. Mycophenolic acid (MPA) was used as a specific inhibitor of the enzyme activity. IMPDH activity was maximally inhibited with 0.5 microM MPA. After a 2 h exposure of the cells to 0.5 microM MPA, guanine nucleotides were depleted to approximately 50% of control values, whereas 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate levels increased to approximately 200%. Under these conditions, cytotoxicity became obvious after 24 h. Depletion of guanine nucleotides and cytotoxicity were prevented by addition of guanosine to MPA treatment. Daily supplements of guanosine were required to prevent MPA cytotoxicity during the entire incubation period of 72 h. We conclude that depletion of guanine nucleotides, induced by treatment with MPA, induces a severe and rapid cytotoxicity in Molt F4 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, St Radboud University Hospital of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Stet
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: De Abreu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bökkerink
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lambooy
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Vogels-Mentink
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Keizer-Garritsen
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Trijbels
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000378:metabolism; D011685:Purine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D011742:Pyrimidine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D009705:Nucleosides; D011685:Purine Nucleotides; D011742:Pyrimidine Nucleotides; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid