Studies on purine enzymes in experimental colitis.

Although the role of adenosine deaminase (ADA), adenylate deaminase (AMP-DA), purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is well documented in gastric and intestinal carcinoma, their role in inflammatory bowel diseases remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the profile of these enzymes in blood and intestinal tissues during colitis. Colitis induced in Wistar rats by acetic acid was monitored by a marker enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO). The tissue levels of MPO increased on 1, 2, 5 and 6 days post-administration (PA) of acetic acid and declined to the control levels by day 7 PA. In parallel the blood levels of ADA and AMP-DA decreased on days 1, 2 and 5 without any significant change on days 6 and 7 PA. Similar observations were recorded for these enzymes in the cytosolic extracts of colonic tissue specimens. In contrast, PNP remained unaltered in both blood and tissue samples. These findings suggest an inverse-relationship between inflammation and purine deaminases in both blood and tissues.