Characterization of adenosine deaminase from normal colon and colon tumors. Evidence for tumor-specific variants

Soluble CD26: From Suggested Biomarker for Cancer Diagnosis to Plausible Marker for Dynamic Monitoring of Immunotherapy

Soluble CD26 (sCD26), a glycoprotein with dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP4) enzymatic activity, can contribute to early diagnosis of colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas and has been studied, including for prognostic purposes, across various other types of cancer and disease. The latest research in this field has confirmed that most, though not all, serum/plasma sCD26 is related to inflammation. The shedding and/or secretion of sCD26 from different immune cells are being investigated, and blood DPP4 activity levels do not correlate very strongly with protein titers. Some of the main substrates of this enzyme are key chemokines involved in immune cell migration, and both soluble and cell-surface CD26 can bind adenosine deaminase (ADA), an enzyme involved in the metabolism of immunosuppressor extracellular adenosine. Of note, there are T cells enriched in CD26 expression and, in mice tumor models, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes exhibited heightened percentages of CD26+ correlating with tumor regression. We employed sCD26 as a biomarker in the follow-up after curative resection of colorectal cancer for the early detection of tumor recurrence. Changes after treatment with different biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, including Ig-CTLA4, were also observed in rheumatoid arthritis. Serum soluble CD26/DPP4 titer variation has recently been proposed as a potential prognostic biomarker after a phase I trial in cancer immunotherapy with a humanized anti-CD26 antibody. We propose that dynamic monitoring of sCD26/DPP4 changes, in addition to well-known inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP already in use as informative for immune checkpoint immunotherapy, may indicate resistance or response during the successive steps of the treatment. As tumor cells expressing CD26 can also produce sCD26, the possibility of sorting immune- from non-immune-system-originated sCD26 is discussed.

Development of Adenosine Deaminase-Specific IgY Antibodies: Diagnostic and Inhibitory Application

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is currently used as a diagnostic marker for tuberculous pleuritis. Although ADA has been suggested as a potential marker for several types of cancer, the importance of each of ADA isoforms as well as their levels and enzymatic activities in tumors need to be further investigated. Herein we developed avian immunoglobulin Y highly specific to human ADA via hens immunization with calf adenosine deaminase. The obtained antibodies were used for the development of a sensitive double-egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) sandwich ELISA assay with an ADA detection limit of 0.5 ng/ml and a linearity range of up to 10 ng/ml. Specific, affinity-purified IgYs were able to recognize human recombinant ADA and ADA present in human cancer cell lines. In addition, antigen-specific IgY antibodies were able to inhibit catalytic activity of calf ADA with an IC₅₀ value of 47.48 nM. We showed that generated IgY antibodies may be useful for ADA detection, thus acting as a diagnostic agent in immunoenzymatic assays.

Potential of soluble CD26 as a serum marker for colorectal cancer detection

Colorectal cancer is characterized by a low survival rate even though the basis for colon cancer development, which involves the evolution of adenomas to carcinoma, is known. Moreover, the mortality rates continue to rise in economically transitioning countries although there is the opportunity to intervene in the natural history of the adenoma–cancer sequence through risk factors, screening, and treatment. Screening in particular accounted for most of the decline in colorectal cancer mortality achieved in the USA during the period 1975-2000. Patients show a better prognosis when the neoplasm is diagnosed early. Among the variety of screening strategies, the methods range from invasive and costly procedures such as colonoscopy to more low-cost and non-invasive tests such as the fecal occult blood test (guaiac and immunochemical). As a non-invasive biological serum marker would be of great benefit because of the performance of the test, several biomarkers, including cytologic assays, DNA and mRNA, and soluble proteins, have been studied. We found that the soluble CD26 (sCD26) concentration is diminished in serum of colorectal cancer patients compared to healthy donors, suggesting the potential utility of a sCD26 immunochemical detection test for early diagnosis. sCD26 originates from plasma membrane CD26 lacking its transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Some 90%–95% of sCD26 has been associated with serum dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) activity. DPP-IV, assigned to the CD26 cluster, is a pleiotropic enzyme expressed mainly on epithelial cells and lymphocytes. Our studies intended to validate this test for population screening to detect colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas are reviewed here.

On the origin of serum CD26 and its altered concentration in cancer patients

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), assigned to the CD26 cluster, is expressed on epithelial cells and lymphocytes and is a multifunctional or pleiotropic protein. Its peptidase activity causes degradation of many biologically active peptides, e.g. some incretins secreted by the enteroendocrine system. DPP-IV has, therefore, become a novel therapeutic target for inhibitors that extend endogenously produced insulin half-life in diabetics, and several reviews have appeared in recent months concerning the clinical significance of CD26/DPP-IV. Biological fluids contain relatively high levels of soluble CD26 (sCD26). The physiological role of sCD26 and its relation, if any, to CD26 functions, remain poorly understood because whether the process for CD26 secretion and/or shedding from cell membranes is regulated or not is not known. Liver epithelium and lymphocytes are often cited as the most likely source of sCD26. It is important to establish which tissue or organ is the protein source as well as the circumstances that can provoke an abnormal presence/absence or altered levels in many diseases including cancer, so that sCD26 can be validated as a clinical marker or a therapeutic target. For example, we have previously reported low levels of sCD26 in the blood of colorectal cancer patients, which indicated the potential usefulness of the protein as a biomarker for this cancer in early diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis. Through this review, we envisage a role for sCD26 and the alteration of normal peptidase capacity (in clipping enteroendocrine or other peptides) in the complex crosstalk between the lymphoid lineage and, at least, some malignant tumours.

On the regulatory role of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (=CD=adenosine deaminase complexing protein) on adenosine deaminase activity

The molecular mechanism controlling the variable activity of the malignancy marker adenosine deaminase (ADA) is enigmatic. ADA activity was found to be modulated by the membrane-bound adenosine deaminase complexing protein (CP=DPPIV=CD26). The role of lipid-protein interactions in this modulation was sought. While direct solubilization of ADA in vesicles resulted in loss of ADA activity, the binding of ADA to CP reconstituted in vesicles restored the specific activity. The activity of ADA, free or bound to CP in solution, resulted in continuous linear Arrhenius plots. However, ADA bound to reconstituted CP exhibited two breaks associated with approximately 30% increased activity, at 25 and 13 degrees C, yielding three lines with similar apparent activation energies (E(a)). Continuum solvent model calculations of the free energy of transfer of the transmembrane helix of CP from the aqueous phase into membranes of various widths show that the most favorable orientations of the helix above and below the main phase transition may be different. We suggest that the 20% change in the thickness of the bilayer below and above the main phase transition may modify the orientation of CP in the membrane, thereby affecting substrate accessibility of ADA. This could account for ADA's reduced activity associated with increased membrane fluidity in transformed vs. normal fibroblasts.

Adenosine deaminase: functional implications and different classes of inhibitors

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme of the purine metabolism which catalyzes the irreversible deamination of adenosine and deoxyadenosine to inosine and deoxyinosine, respectively. This ubiquitous enzyme has been found in a wide variety of microorganisms, plants, and invertebrates. In addition, it is present in all mammalian cells that play a central role in the differentiation and maturation of the lymphoid system. However, despite a number of studies performed to date, the physiological role played by ADA in the different tissues is not clear. Inherited ADA deficiency causes severe combined immunodeficiency disease (ADA-SCID), in which both B-cell and T-cell development is impaired. ADA-SCID has been the first disorder to be treated by gene therapy, using polyethylene glycol-modified bovine ADA (PEG-ADA). Conversely, there are several diseases in which the level of ADA is above normal. A number of ADA inhibitors have been designed and synthesized, classified as ground-state and transition-state inhibitors. They may be used to mimic the genetic deficiency of the enzyme, in lymphoproliferative disorders or immunosuppressive therapy (i.e., in graft rejection), to potentiate the effect of antileukemic or antiviral nucleosides, and, together with adenosine kinase, to reduce breakdown of adenosine in inflammation, hypertension, and ischemic injury.

Tumor-promoting functions of adenosine

Tumor growth is a multifactorial process that, in addition to mutations leading to dysregulated expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressive genes, requires specific conditions that provide a supportive physiological environment at the primary and metastatic sites of the disease. Adenosine is one of the factors potentially contributing to tumor growth that thus far has not received adequate attention, despite evidence for a broad range of cytoprotective, growth-promoting, and immunosuppressive activities. Adenosine accumulates in solid tumors at high concentrations, and has been shown to stimulate tumor growth and angiogenesis and to inhibit cytokine synthesis, adhesion of immune cells to the endothelial wall, and the function of T-cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells. However, the mechanisms whereby adenosine accumulates in cancer and the specific effects that result from this accumulation are not well understood. This article surveys the available evidence that supports an important role of adenosine in cancer.

Probing the active site of adenosine deaminase by a pH responsive fluorescent competitive inhibitor

The adenine analog erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine, EHNA, a tight reversible inhibitor (KI = 1.6 x 10(-9) M) of adenosine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.4) (ADase), was modified into the fluorescent etheno derivative epsilon-EHNA. The latter is a competitive inhibitor of adenosine deaminase [KI = (2.80 +/- 0.01)10(-6) M], having the fluorescent properties of epsilon-adenines. Affinity to the active site, monitored by both steady-state and dynamic fluorescence polarization, was confirmed by competition experiments with 2'-deoxycoformycin, the substrate adenosine and EHNA. The epsilon-adenine moiety of epsilon-EHNA librates at the shallow active site of ADase. The low absorptivity of epsilon-EHNA required the measurement of fluorescence excitation spectra. Computer subtraction of fluorescence excitation spectrum of ADase from that of its equimolar complex with epsilon-EHNA revealed the corrected excitation spectrum of epsilon-EHNA at the active site of the enzyme. This spectrum mimics that of epsilon-EHNA at pH 5.5 in buffer solution, implying its protonation at the active site of the enzyme. These results are in agreement with the presence of acidic amino acids that are essential to the catalytic mechanism.

Distribution of adenosine deaminase binding protein in normal and malignant tissues of the gastrointestinal tract studied by monoclonal antibodies

A mouse monoclonal antibody V-715 was raised against fresh colon cancer tissues. Biochemical analysis elucidated that the antigen defined was adenosine deaminase binding protein (ADBP). In colon cancer cell lines, V-715 was positive in 8 out of 16 differentiated cancers and in 2 out of 8 poorly differentiated cancers. In frozen sections, ADBP was expressed in 17 out of 33 differentiated colon cancers, but none of 4 poorly differentiated colon cancers. In normal colon, the expression was observed in epithelium. In gastric cancers, ADBP was expressed in 10 out of 15 differentiated cancers, but weakly or only heterogenously expressed in 2 out of 8 poorly differentiated cancers. In normal gastric mucosa, ADBP was mainly detected in the foveolar epithelium, but was weakly or not expressed in the deep gastric glands. Carcinoid tumors and malignant lymphoma of the stomach did not express ADBP. These results suggest that ADBP may act as a marker of enterocytic differentiation in normal and neoplastic gastrointestinal cells, and might be exploitable in clinical and pathological diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancers.

Adenosine deaminase complexing protein (ADCP) expression and metastatic potential in prostatic adenocarcinomas

The expression of the adenosine deaminase complexing protein (ADCP) was investigated by immunohistochemistry in the normal and hyperplastic human prostate, in 30 prostatic adenocarcinomas, and in seven human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell lines grown as xenografts in athymic nude mice. In the normal and hyperplastic prostate, ADCP was localized exclusively in the apical membrane and the apical cytoplasm of the glandular epithelial cells. In prostatic adenocarcinomas, four distinct ADCP expression patterns were observed: diffuse cytoplasmic, membranous, both cytoplasmic and membranous, and no ADCP expression. The expression patterns were compared with the presence of metastases. We found an inverse correlation between membranous ADCP immunoreactivity and metastatic propensity. Exclusively membranous ADCP immunoreactivity occurred only in non-metastatic tumours. In contrast, the metastatic tumours showed no or diffuse cytoplasmic ADCP immunoreactivity. This suggests that immunohistochemical detection of ADCP might predict the biological behaviour of prostatic cancer. However, the occurrence of membranous ADCP immunoreactivity in the xenograft of a cell line (PC-EW), derived from a prostatic carcinoma metastasis, indicates that not only the tendency to metastasize modulates ADCP expression.

Purification and partial characterization of brain adenosine deaminase: inhibition by purine compounds and by drugs

Rat brain adenosine deaminase (E.C. 3.5.4.4.) was purified 667-fold from the supernatant fraction by the following techniques: heat treatment (60 degrees C), fractionation with ammonium sulfate, column chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, and preparative gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme was homogeneous by the criterion of polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Amino acid composition is given. The isoelectric point of the enzyme (5.2) was determined by isoelectric focusing on agarose. The apparent molecular weight was estimated to be 39,000 (Stokes Radius [Rs] = 27.3 A) using a calibrated Sephacryl S-300 column. The study of the influence of the temperature on the initial reaction rates allowed calculation of Ea (8.9 Kcal/mole) and delta H (5.0 Kcal/mole) values. The variation of V and Km with pH suggests the existence of a sulfhydryl group and an imidazole group in the enzyme-substrate complex. The enzyme had a Km (adenosine) of 4.5 X 10(-5) M and was inhibited by inosine, guanosine, adenine, and hypoxanthine but not by other intermediates of purine metabolism. None of the inhibitors were active as substrates. The enzyme was also inhibited by dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol. Inhibition by ethanol can account partially for the CNS depressant effects of levels 3 and 4 of alcohol intoxication. A number of drugs having therapeutic uses such as sedative, anxiolytic, analgesic, and relaxant are modulators of the enzyme. Among these, lidoflazine, phenylbutazone, and chlordiazepoxide are the most potent as inhibitors (Ki 30, 54, and 83 microM, respectively), whereas medazepam is the most potent as activator (Ka 0.32 mM). Thus, it is concluded that some drugs that inhibit adenosine uptake also modulate adenosine deaminase activity. Besides, since the enzyme is located extracellularly [Franco et al, 1986], these drugs can modulate the physiological effects exerted by extracellular adenosine.

Cell surface antigens of human melanocytes and melanoma. Expression of adenosine deaminase binding protein is extinguished with melanocyte transformation

It has been proposed that the pathogenesis of melanoma proceeds through multiple stages, ranging from benign proliferation of melanocytic cells to acquisition of the capacity to invade tissues and metastasize. During investigations of cell surface antigens expressed by melanocytes and melanoma, we identified an antigen system that was expressed by cultured normal melanocytes but not by melanoma cell lines. mAbs against this antigen detected a 120-kD cell surface glycoprotein on melanocytes. This molecule had been identified previously as the binding protein for adenosine deaminase (ADAbp). ADAbp was expressed by 51 melanocyte cell lines derived from normal fetal, newborn, and adult skin and adult choroid, but not by 102 melanoma cell lines derived from primary and metastatic lesions. Studies with radiolabeled bovine adenosine deaminase, confirmed that melanocytes expressed binding sites for adenosine deaminase, but no binding sites were detected on cultured melanoma cells. Further studies showed that ADAbp+ melanocytes became ADAbp- upon malignant transformation in vitro. Immunohistochemical studies on a panel of frozen tissues demonstrated reactivity of anti-ADAbp mAbs with epidermal melanocytes and benign junctional nevi, but not with potentially premalignant dysplastic nevi or primary/metastatic melanoma lesions. These studies demonstrate that ADAbp expression is lost with malignant transformation of melanocytes, presumably at an early stage in the transformation process.

Adaptive changes of intestinal enzymes to nutritional intake in the aging rat

We previously have shown that aging alters the expression of several intestinal enzymes during cell migration from the crypt base to the villus tip. The activities of many mucosal enzymes are dramatically altered by starvation and refeeding. We compared the effects of starvation and refeeding on the activities of selected intestinal enzymes in young and aging Fischer 344 rats. Gut mass fell during starvation and rose during refeeding to a similar extent in both groups. Sucrase and maltase specific activities in control aging rats were lower than in young controls and, during starvation, enzyme activities declined at approximately similar rates in both groups. Total duodenal enzyme activities fell by about two-thirds in young animals and by greater than 80% in aged animals. Alkaline phosphatase and adenosine deaminase activities also were lower in aging than young animals. During refeeding, enzyme activities rose more in aging rats than in the young. In fact, the specific activities of sucrase and maltase in aging rats refed for 1 day exceeded the values found in fed aging controls. The adaptive responses of duodenal enzymes exceeded those in the jejunum. In conclusion, the aging intestine responds appropriately to starvation and refeeding. However, the fluctuations in brush-border enzyme activities are much greater in aging than in young rats. Such alterations may be an important influence of aging on gut differentiation and might have an adverse impact upon nutritional maintenance in aging animals.

Ontogenesis of adenosine deaminase activity in rat brain

The activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) was determined in whole brain of rats at the embryonic age of 15 days through to adulthood and in nine brain regions in rats 1 day old through to adulthood. In 1-day-old rats, the highest activity was seen in olfactory bulbs (550 +/- 15 nmol/mg protein/30 min) and this was 4.5-fold higher than that in the pons, which was the lowest. In adult animals, olfactory bulb still contained the greatest activity, which was about eightfold higher than hippocampus, which had the lowest. Except for hypothalamus, where ADA activity increased nearly twofold in rats between the ages of 1 and 50 days, significant decreases of as much as fivefold were found in whole brain, superior colliculus, cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, olfactory bulbs, and olfactory nucleus. In contrast, ADA activity in pons and subcortex remained relatively constant throughout the developmental period. The Km values for ADA in whole brain at 18 days gestation (48 +/- 5 microM) were not significantly different from that observed in adult rats (38 +/- 7 microM), whereas the Vmax values decreased significantly from 339 +/- 9 to 108 +/- 8 nmol/mg protein/30 min. Taken together, the developmental patterns observed in the various brain regions appear not to correspond to any one particular process such as periods of rapid cell proliferation, cell death, synaptogenesis, or myelination. Nor do they correspond to known developmental profiles of transmitters, their receptors, or their metabolic enzymes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Heterogeneity of isozyme expression in tumor cells does not correlate with metastatic potential

The major purpose of these studies was to determine whether the expression of isozymes by tumor cells was heterogeneous among tumor cell subpopulations within a neoplasm and whether expression of one or another isozyme correlated with metastatic potential of tumor cells. The expression levels of 40 isozymes were determined in 56 cell lines, many of them clonal, from nine different murine and human tumors. The enzymes chosen for study are involved in nucleotide, carbohydrate and pentose phosphate metabolism, and as such are indicators of the general metabolic and differentiational status of the cell. The tumors studied included two murine and two human malignant melanomas, four murine fibrosarcomas, and one human prostatic adenocarcinoma. The lines isolated from these tumors consisted of cells that are tumorigenic non-metastatic, tumorigenic low metastatic and tumorigenic highly metastatic. Clonally derived cell lines from a given tumor differed in their expression of a number of different isozymes, including adenosine deaminase, creatine phosphokinase-B and lactate dehydrogenase. Different patterns of isozyme expression were observed among different tumor types as well as between tumors of the same type; however, there were no differences in isozyme expression for any enzyme tested that correlated with metastatic ability of tumor cells.

Adenosine deaminase complexing protein (ADCP) immunoreactivity in colorectal adenocarcinoma

Immunoreactive adenosine deaminase complexing protein (ADCP) was studied in 91 human colorectal adenocarcinomas. The expression of ADCP was correlated with that of secretory component (SC) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), with the histological grade and the Dukes' stage of the carcinomas. The histological grade was scored semi-quantitatively according to 5 structural and 4 cytological variables. ADCP expression was observed in 3 different staining patterns, namely: (1) diffuse cytoplasmic (77% of the carcinomas); (2) granular cytoplasmic (13%); and (3) membrane-associated (66%). These patterns were observed alone or in combination. Eleven percent of the carcinomas exhibited no ADCP immunoreactivity. Linear regression analysis showed that the expression of ADCP correlates with that of SC and CEA. However, no significant correlation emerged between the histological parameters or the Dukes' stage and any of the immunohistological parameters. Comparison of the histological characteristics of carcinomas exhibiting little or no ADCP immunoreactivity with those showing extensive immunoreactivity, showed that membranous ADCP immunoreactivity occurs more frequently in well-differentiated carcinomas. Structural parameters showed a better correlation with membranous ADCP expression than the cytological variables. It is concluded that membranous expression of ADCP and CEA are indicators of a high level of differentiation as reflected primarily in the structural characteristics of the tumor.

A new diagnostic immunoassay for proximal tubule injury

Adenosine deaminase binding protein (AdAbp), a glycoprotein found in the epithelial cells of the brush border of the proximal tubule, is shed into urine following kidney damage. A sandwich enzyme immunoassay is described that uses two monoclonal antibodies, URO-4 (S27) and URO-4a (S23), which react with different epitopes on AdAbp (2, 24). Release of AdAbp into the urine appears to reflect the severity of the insult to the nephron and its measurement may assist in distinguishing between tubular disease and glomerular disease and may be useful in indicating renal toxicity.

Delayed enzyme expression: a defect of aging rat gut

To evaluate the effect of aging upon the small intestine, the distribution, content, and concentration of epithelial cell enzymes at different levels along the crypt-villus column were measured in aging and young adult, male, Fisher 344 rats. Specific activities of sucrase, maltase, lactase, and adenosine deaminase in mucosal homogenates were lower in the upper intestines of aging than in young animals, whereas the specific activity and content of thymidine kinase was higher. Enzyme activities were measured in cells obtained by cryostat sectioning from villus tip to crypt base. Sucrase and maltase activities were fully expressed nearest the crypt, alkaline phosphatase in cells higher on the villus, and adenosine deaminase higher still, whereas thymidine kinase activity was limited to the crypts. The ordered pattern of enzyme expression was maintained in aging rats but the initiation and duration were delayed. Because peak specific enzyme activities were similar in young and aging animals, the reduced specific activities in mucosal homogenates from aging animals were due to an increase in the proportion of relatively undifferentiated villus epithelial cells. These findings are of importance in explaining altered intestinal function during aging without a concomitant change in intestinal structure.

Specificity analysis of mouse monoclonal antibodies defining cell surface antigens of human renal cancer

Six mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) defining separate systems of cell surface antigens of cultured human renal cancer were tested for reactivity with normal fetal and adult tissues and with neoplastic tissues. Five of the mAbs identified glycoproteins of Mr 160,000 (designated S4), Mr Mr 140,000 (F23), Mr 120,000 (S23 and S27), and Mr 115,000 (S22). The glycoprotein component of Mr 120,000 has been shown recently to be the adenosine deaminase binding protein (ADA-BP) and mAbS23 and mAbS27 define two distinct epitopes on ADA-BP. S22 was not detected on any normal fetal or adult tissues but was found on a subset of renal cancers. S4, F23, S23, and S27 defined distinct domains of the nephron: glomerulus (S4), proximal tubules (S4, F23, S23, and S27), and portions of Henle's loop (S23 and S27). mAbS4 also reacted with the interstitial matrix in the renal medulla and of other tissues, and mAbF23 reacted with fetal and adult fibroblasts. The S23 epitope of ADA-BP was expressed by placental trophoblasts and epithelial cells of breast, prostate, lung, and colon, whereas the S27 epitope was detected on a more limited range of cell types (trophoblasts and prostate epithelium). A panel of 20 renal cell carcinomas was typed for expression of these antigens; 7 phenotypes could be distinguished, with the S4+/F23+/S23+/S27+/S22+ or - phenotype (15 cases) being most common. The other antigenic system, V1, identified a heat-stable antigen that was widely expressed on cultured cell types but showed a restricted pattern of reactivity in tissues. V1 expression was limited to the adrenal cortex, Leydig cells, and the theca of ovarian follicles, and to adrenal cortical carcinomas.

Characterization of adenosine deaminase from normal human epidermis and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

We compared the characteristics of adenosine deaminases (ADs) (E.C. 3.5.4.4.) in squamous cell carcinoma and normal human epidermis. Increased specific activity (per mg protein) of AD was observed in squamous cell carcinoma compared with that of the normal epidermis. In normal human epidermis most of the AD existed as a large form (Mr 300,000-350,000, type A). Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin was characterized by a high proportion of small-form (Mr 30,000-40,000, type C) AD. The proportion of the small-form enzyme varied from tumor to tumor. Comparison of the large-form AD from squamous cell carcinoma to that from normal epidermis revealed that both enzymes were similar in relative substrate specificity, Km values for adenosine, pH optima, heat stability pattern, isoelectric point, and sensitivity to inhibition by coformycin, a tight binding inhibitor of AD. However, the low molecular weight of AD from squamous cell carcinoma was less heat stable than that from the large-molecular-weight form. Increased AD activity and the high proportion of the small form of AD might be significant features of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

Immunohistochemical localization of adenosine deaminase complexing protein in intestinal mucosa and in colorectal adenocarcinoma as a marker for tumour cell heterogeneity

Adenosine deaminase complexing protein (ADCP), a dimeric glycoprotein, has been reported to be decreased or deficient in transformed or cancer-derived cell lines, indicating its potential significance as an indicator of malignant transformation. A similar deficiency was reported in total homogenates of tumours of colon, kidney, lung and liver. In previous biochemical studies we failed to confirm the consistent reduction in ADCP concentration in cancer tissues. A possible explanation for our findings was thought to be intercellular heterogeneity in ADCP expression in individual tumour cells. To study ADCP expression in individual cells, we developed an immunohistochemical method which was applied to tissue sections. Paraformaldehyde--lysine--periodate (PLP) solution was found to be a suitable fixative. Fixed tissue samples were paraffin-embedded, sectioned and stained for ADCP, using an indirect peroxidase-labelled antibody procedure. The protein was localized in normal colonic mucosa, mainly in the brush border region of the luminal epithelium and in cytoplasmic granules. Intense ADCP immunoreactivity was found also in the basal part of some cells. In cancer cells, three staining patterns were observed: membranous, diffuse cytoplasmic and granular cytoplasmic. The adenocarcinomas exhibited significant intratumour and intertumour heterogeneity in their staining types. Further studies on ADCP expression in colorectal cancer in relation to clinical and histopathological characteristics are warranted in order to fully evaluate the potential significance of ADCP as a cancer associated antigen.

Characterization of the forms of bovine liver adenosine deaminase

1. The A and C forms of bovine liver adenosine deaminase (adenosine aminohydrolase; EC 3.5,4.4) have been separated. 2. The proportion of two forms is dependent on ionic strength of solution. 3. By gel filtration, in presence of 6 M urea, and A form is dissociated into the C form and the binding factor and both are also separated. By removal of urea the A form is again obtained. 4. The molecular weights of two forms and binding factor, kinetic parameters have been determined.

Fluorescent substrate analogue for adenosine deaminase: 3'-O-[5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonyl]adenosine

The synthesis of the fluorescent derivative of adenosine, by reaction with 5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride in dry pyridine at low temperature, yielding 3'-O-[5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonyl]adenosine (3'-O-dansyladenosine), is here described. 3'-O-Dansyladenosine is partially soluble in water (approximately 10(-4) M) and upon excitation at 325 nm exhibits maximum fluorescence emission at 516 +/- 22 nm (corrected) in buffered aqueous solution at pH 7.6 with a quantum yield of 0.21 and a lifetime of 11.8 +/- 0.2 ns. The fluorescence of 3'-O-dansyladenosine is sensitive to the polarity of its solvent: in pyridine, a quantum yield of 0.61 at the emission maximum of 435 nm was observed. 3'-O-Dansyladenosine is a reversible competitive inhibitor of adenosine deaminase with a moderate inhibitive dissociation constant K1 = (1.54 +/- 0.13) X 10(-5) M. The enzyme-substrate analogue association constant was determined by equilibrium dialysis to be K = (0.69 +/- 0.05) X 10(5) M-1, very close to KI-1. The hydrophobic nature of its binding site in adenosine deaminase is evident from the strong blue shift of the fluorescence emission maximum to 440 nm, the 4-fold increase in fluorescence quantum yield, and the longer lifetime of 15.8 +/- 0.2 ns; the tight, rigid nature of the complex is evident from its high fluorescence polarization value, 0.23. An 85% decrease in the fluorescence emission intensity of the adenosine deaminase-3'-O-dansyladenosine complex in the presence of adenosine indicates the selective binding to the enzyme active site. Correlation between the conformation of the probe, either when free in various solvents or when bound to the enzyme, and its fluorescence quantum yield is noted. 3'-O-Dansyladenosine is suitable for fluorescent labeling of adenosine deaminase in cell systems.