title: Inhibition of T lymphocyte activation in mice heterozygous for loss of the IMPDH II gene.
abstract: Inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis of guanine nucleotides, which are also synthesized from guanine by a salvage reaction catalyzed by the X chromosome-linked enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT). Since inhibitors of IMPDH are in clinical use as immunosuppressive agents, we have examined the consequences of knocking out the IMPDH type II enzyme by gene targeting in a mouse model. Loss of both alleles of the gene encoding this enzyme results in very early embryonic lethality despite the presence of IMPDH type I and HPRT activities. Lymphocytes from IMPDH II(+/-) heterozygous mice are normal with respect to subpopulation distribution and respond normally to a variety of mitogenic stimuli. However, mice with an IMPDH II(+/-), HPRT(-/o) genotype demonstrate significantly decreased lymphocyte responsiveness to stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies and show a 30% mean reduction in GTP levels in lymphocytes activated by these antibodies. Furthermore, the cytolytic activity of their T cells against allogeneic target cells is significantly impaired. These results demonstrate that a moderate decrease in the ability of murine lymphocytes to synthesize guanine nucleotides during stimulation results in significant impairment in T-cell activation and function.
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stegmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gathy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laliberte
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ayscue
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011685:Purine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008934:Mitogens; D011685:Purine Nucleotides; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase