Biomaterial Database

Assay of 6-thioguanine nucleotide, a major metabolite of azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and 6-thioguanine, in human red blood cells. 1983

L Lennard, and J L Maddocks

An assay for 6-thioguanine (6-TG) nucleotide, a major metabolite of the cytotoxic drugs azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and 6-thioguanine in human red blood cells (RBCs) has been developed. The metabolite was not detected in RBCs when azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine was incubated with whole blood in-vitro. The assay for intracellular 6-TG nucleotide is specific and requires 8 X 10(8) RBCs (100 microliters packed cells) for which the limit of sensitivity is 30 pmole 6-TG nucleotide. Pre-dose blood samples were obtained, 12 h after the last azathioprine dose, from 10 renal transplant recipients with stable functioning cadaver grafts on a total daily dose of 150 mg azathioprine. The mean 6-TG nucleotide concentration was 171 pmole/8 X 10(8) RBCs (s.d. = 84). The assay is also suitable for use in measuring 6-TG nucleotide in the RBCs of leukaemic children undergoing 6-mercaptopurine treatment.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007945	Leukemia, Lymphoid	Leukemia associated with HYPERPLASIA of the lymphoid tissues and increased numbers of circulating malignant LYMPHOCYTES and lymphoblasts.	Leukemia, Lymphocytic,Lymphocytic Leukemia,Lymphoid Leukemia,Leukemias, Lymphocytic,Leukemias, Lymphoid,Lymphocytic Leukemias,Lymphoid Leukemias
D004912	Erythrocytes	Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN.	Blood Cells, Red,Blood Corpuscles, Red,Red Blood Cells,Red Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, Red,Blood Corpuscle, Red,Erythrocyte,Red Blood Cell,Red Blood Corpuscle
D006150	Guanine Nucleotides		Guanine Nucleotide,Guanosine Phosphates,Nucleotide, Guanine,Nucleotides, Guanine,Phosphates, Guanosine
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001379	Azathioprine	An immunosuppressive agent used in combination with cyclophosphamide and hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. According to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985), this substance has been listed as a known carcinogen. (Merck Index, 11th ed)	Azathioprine Sodium,Azathioprine Sodium Salt,Azathioprine Sulfate,Azothioprine,Immuran,Imuran,Imurel,Sodium, Azathioprine
D013866	Thioguanine	An antineoplastic compound which also has antimetabolite action. The drug is used in the therapy of acute leukemia.	6-Thioguanine,2-Amino-6-Purinethiol,Lanvis,Tabloid,Thioguanin-GSK,Thioguanine Anhydrous,Thioguanine Hemihydrate,Thioguanine Monosodium Salt,Thioguanine Tabloid,Tioguanina Wellcome,Tioguanine,2 Amino 6 Purinethiol,6 Thioguanine,Anhydrous, Thioguanine,Thioguanin GSK,ThioguaninGSK
D013873	Thionucleotides	Nucleotides in which the base moiety is substituted with one or more sulfur atoms.
D015122	Mercaptopurine	An antimetabolite antineoplastic agent with immunosuppressant properties. It interferes with nucleic acid synthesis by inhibiting purine metabolism and is used, usually in combination with other drugs, in the treatment of or in remission maintenance programs for leukemia.	6-Mercaptopurine,1,7-Dihydro-6H-purine-6-thione,6-Mercaptopurine Monohydrate,6-Thiohypoxanthine,6-Thiopurine,6H-Purine-6-thione, 1,7-dihydro-,BW 57-323H,Leupurin,Mecaptopurine Anhydrous,Mercaptopurina Wellcome,Puri-Nethol,Purimethol,Purinethol,6 Mercaptopurine,6 Mercaptopurine Monohydrate,6 Thiohypoxanthine,6 Thiopurine,BW 57 323H,BW 57323H
D066298	In Vitro Techniques	Methods to study reactions or processes taking place in an artificial environment outside the living organism.	In Vitro Test,In Vitro Testing,In Vitro Tests,In Vitro as Topic,In Vitro,In Vitro Technique,In Vitro Testings,Technique, In Vitro,Techniques, In Vitro,Test, In Vitro,Testing, In Vitro,Testings, In Vitro,Tests, In Vitro,Vitro Testing, In