title: Activity of adenosine deaminase in red blood cells of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone.
abstract: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was studied in red blood cells of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ADA activity in hemolysates was determined according to the method of Hopkinson and calculated as units per g of hemoglobin. Activity of adenosine deaminase in healthy subjects was 0.871 +/- 0.251 U/g Hb. In patients with multiple sclerosis, before treatment ADA activity was 0.765 +/- 0.131 U/g Hb and was about 15.2% lower than in the control group (p < 0.02). After treatment with ACTH, ADA activity increased to 1.005 +/- 0.211 U/g Hb (p < 0.001). We have suggested that increased activity of adenosine deaminase in red blood cells of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis after treatment with ACTH is caused by diminution of superoxide generation, and therefore its sparing effect on cell membrane and enzyme is connected with membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Military Medical Academy, Lódź, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kopff
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zakrzewska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klem
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puczkowski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strzelczyk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czernicki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chmielewski
mesh_terms: D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase