Reversal of the abnormal development of T cell subpopulations in the thymus of autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr mice by a polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor. 1992

T J Thomas, and U B Gunnia, and T Thomas
Program in Clinical Pharmacology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903.

Polyamines--putrescine, spermidine, and spermine--are a group of positively charged organic molecules that are present in all living cells. They are important regulators of cell growth and differentiation, but the precise mechanism of their action is not known. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines. Recent studies demonstrated that down-regulation of polyamine biosynthesis by irreversible inhibition of ODC with difluoromethylornithine (DFMO0 is a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of murine lupus in autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr mice. Since murine lupus in this strain is associated with a major alteration in thymic T cell subopulations, we questioned whether abnormal polyamine biosynthesis contributes to aberrant T cell maturation in the thymus of MRL-lpr/lpr mice. Thymocytes were analyzed for cell surface markers, CD4 and CD8 by 2-color flow cytometry using their respective monoclonal antibodies. The proportion of thymocyte subsets in disease-free mice (8-10 week of age) was approximately 72% double positive (DP; CD4+CD8+) cells, 5-7% double negative (DN; CD4-CD8-) cells, 11-16% CD4+ cells and 7-8% CD8+ cells. At 14 weeks of age, a stage of clinical disease expression, thymocytes were marked by the presence of approximately 40% DN cells and approximately 25% DP cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008180 Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic A chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, and often febrile multisystemic disorder of connective tissue, characterized principally by involvement of the skin, joints, kidneys, and serosal membranes. It is of unknown etiology, but is thought to represent a failure of the regulatory mechanisms of the autoimmune system. The disease is marked by a wide range of system dysfunctions, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the formation of LE cells in the blood or bone marrow. Libman-Sacks Disease,Lupus Erythematosus Disseminatus,Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,Disease, Libman-Sacks,Libman Sacks Disease
D008815 Mice, Inbred Strains Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations, or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. All animals within an inbred strain trace back to a common ancestor in the twentieth generation. Inbred Mouse Strains,Inbred Strain of Mice,Inbred Strain of Mouse,Inbred Strains of Mice,Mouse, Inbred Strain,Inbred Mouse Strain,Mouse Inbred Strain,Mouse Inbred Strains,Mouse Strain, Inbred,Mouse Strains, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Mouse,Strains, Inbred Mouse
D009955 Ornithine Decarboxylase A pyridoxal-phosphate protein, believed to be the rate-limiting compound in the biosynthesis of polyamines. It catalyzes the decarboxylation of ornithine to form putrescine, which is then linked to a propylamine moiety of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine to form spermidine. Ornithine Carboxy-lyase,Carboxy-lyase, Ornithine,Decarboxylase, Ornithine,Ornithine Carboxy lyase
D011700 Putrescine A toxic diamine formed by putrefaction from the decarboxylation of arginine and ornithine. 1,4-Butanediamine,1,4-Diaminobutane,Tetramethylenediamine,1,4 Butanediamine,1,4 Diaminobutane
D004195 Disease Models, Animal Naturally-occurring or experimentally-induced animal diseases with pathological processes analogous to human diseases. Animal Disease Model,Animal Disease Models,Disease Model, Animal
D000518 Eflornithine An inhibitor of ORNITHINE DECARBOXYLASE, the rate limiting enzyme of the polyamine biosynthetic pathway. Difluoromethylornithine,alpha-Difluoromethylornithine,DL-alpha-Difluoromethylornithine,Eflornithine Hydrochloride,Eflornithine Monohydrochloride, Monohydrate,MDL-71,782 A,Ornidyl,RMI 71782,Vaniqa,alpha-Difluoromethyl Ornithine,DL alpha Difluoromethylornithine,MDL 71,782 A,MDL71,782 A,Ornithine, alpha-Difluoromethyl,alpha Difluoromethyl Ornithine,alpha Difluoromethylornithine
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013095 Spermidine A polyamine formed from putrescine. It is found in almost all tissues in association with nucleic acids. It is found as a cation at all pH values, and is thought to help stabilize some membranes and nucleic acid structures. It is a precursor of spermine.
D013950 Thymus Gland A single, unpaired primary lymphoid organ situated in the MEDIASTINUM, extending superiorly into the neck to the lower edge of the THYROID GLAND and inferiorly to the fourth costal cartilage. It is necessary for normal development of immunologic function early in life. By puberty, it begins to involute and much of the tissue is replaced by fat. Thymus,Gland, Thymus,Glands, Thymus,Thymus Glands
D015551 Autoimmunity Process whereby the immune system reacts against the body's own tissues. Autoimmunity may produce or be caused by AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES. Autoimmune Response,Autoimmune Responses,Autoimmunities

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