Adenosine-aminohydrolase activity in the erythrocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma of healthy subjects and kidney transplant recipients.

Adenosine-aminohydrolase activity in the red blood cells and lymphocytes of transplant patients were assayed by continuous flow analysis. This enzyme, which has been implicated in the ability of lymphocytes to mount an immune response, was evaluated in renal allografted patients immunosuppressed by azothiprine and methylprednisone. Red cell adenosine-aminohydrolase activity was depressed in all patients when compared to nontreated health controls. Adenosine aminohydrolase activity was raised in the lymphocytes of the renal allografted patients. Renal transplant patients' in vitro lymphocyte reactivity to antigens, mitogens, or skin testing to specific antigens, confirmed the depressive effects of immunosuppression observed in vivo. We conclude from these studies that red cell adenosine-aminohydrolase activity may be a more sensitive index of the state of immunoresponsiveness than the corresponding enzyme activity in the lymphocyte.