RNA expression of enzymes participating in pyrimidine and purine metabolism in human peripheral blood leukocytes collected from patients suffering from Graves’ or Hashimoto’s disease.

E. Brzezianskaa, Ph.D., A. Lewinskia,b, M.D., Ph.D., M. Karbownika,b, M.D., Ph.D., K. Zasadaa, M.D., M. Migdalska-Seka, M.Sc., D. Pastuszak-Lewandoskab M.Sc.

AIM: The increased blood activities of some enzymes participating in pyrimidine and purine metabolism were found in blood fractions of patients suffering from autoimmunological thyroid diseases (AITD), i.e. Graves’ or Hashimoto’s disease. The aim of the study was to estimate the expression of RNA specific for enzymes in question. Expression of the following enzymes was estimated in human blood leukocytes: deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), thymidine kinase (TK1), and adenosine deaminase 3, 4, and 5 (ADA3, ADA4, and ADA5). METHODS: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and densitometry were employed for the RNA expression measurements. RESULTS: The levels of RNA expression of all the examined enzymes in leukocytes collected from patients with either Graves’ or Hashimoto’s disease were significantly higher than those in controls; above 2-fold increase of RNA expression of TK1, ADA4, and ADA5 was observed. CONCLUSION: The expression of RNA specific for some enzymes participating in purine and pyrimidyne metabolism in blood leukocytes is increased in leukocytes of patients with AITD. The significance of our finding requires further elucidation.

Paper presented at the International Symposium on Predictive Oncology and Intervention Strategies; Paris, France; February 9 - 12, 2002; in the section on Autoimmunity.

http://www.cancerprev.org/Journal/Issues/26/101/1292/4269