Nucleotide-metabolizing enzymes and lymphocyte differentiation.

Inherited deficiencies of adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase have been found to be associated with certain immunodeficiency syndromes which are characterized by deficiencies of mature peripheral lymphocytes. The immunodeficiency states associated with these enzyme deficiencies are thought to arise from blocks in lymphocyte differentiation. Deficiencies of these enzymes have profound and apparently selective effects on lymphocyte differentiation. Their discovery has focused attention on previously unknown relationships between purine nucleotide metabolism and lymphocyte development and function. In this article three aspects of nucleotide-metabolizing enzymes and lymphocyte differentiation will be discussed: 1) the distribution of the enzymes among lymphocyte populations at differing stages of differentiation; 2) the possible biochemical mechanisms which give rise to the immunodeficiencies; 3) the stages of lymphocyte differentiation which are affected by the enzyme deficiencies.