Effect of cyclic AMP on transformation and proliferation of leishmania cells.

A correlation between cyclic AMP (adenosine 3' : 5'-monophosphate) concentration within Leishmania cells and proliferation and transformation is demonstrated. By addition of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitors to the culture medium the intracellular level of cyclic AMP was increased. In the presence of 1mM caffeine the level of cyclic AMP accumulated in L. tropica promastigotes from 90 pmoles up to 380 pmoles per 10(9) cells, whereas the proliferation rate decreased to 50%. In the case of L. donovani the transformation of amastigotes to promastigotes was inhibited by addition of dibutyryl cyclic AMP as well as caffeine and papaverine. Especially caffeine (2mM) and papaverine (0.1mM) reduced the transformation rate to less than 5% after 48 h, compared to 35% of the control.