The differences in purine metabolism between T and B lymphocytes.

In this study enzyme activities involved in purine metabolism were measured in T and B lymphocytes separated by E and EAC rosetting methods. Adenosine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase and HGPRTase activities were significantly elevated in T cells, compared to the activities in B cells. There were no significant differences in adenosine kinase and APRTase activities between T and B lymphocytes. In contrast, PRPPsynthetase activities were higher in B cells than in T cells. The uptake of various radiolabeled precursors by mitogen stimulated lymphocytes was studied. The uptake of 14C-formate by the mitogen stimulated lymphocytes was markedly lower, compared to that of 14C-adenosine and or 14C-purine bases. The uptake of 14C-adenosine by PHA stimulated lymphocytes was considerably higher than that of Con A or PWM stimulated lymphocytes. However, the uptake of 14C-hypoxanthine into lymphocytes stimulated with PWM was increased by comparison with unstimulated lymphocytes. From these results it seems that adenosine plays a central role in the metabolism of T cells, and that purine bases are preferentially utilized in B cells.