Unusual biochemical pattern of serum adenosine deaminase activity in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Gakis, C.; Piras, M.A.; Romani, G.
Haematologica 67(2): 199-206
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0390-6078 PMID: 6807767 Document Number: 197035
In humans adenosine deaminase activity (ADA) differs, in serum and tissues in pH optimum, Km and relative substrate specificity. On the basis of a major or a minor activity on 2'-deoxyadenosine, a serum-type enzyme can be distinguished from a tissue type enzyme. Leukemic patients (29) with acute lymphoblastic, chronic lymphocytic, acute myeloid, chronic myeloid and monocytic leukemia and 1 case of blastic leukemia of uncertain classification were tested for ADA in serum. In all the groups the enzyme activity ranged broadly from normal to very high levels. Examination of ADA for relative substrate specificity, pH optimum and Km revealed the occurrence of a tissue-type enzyme in sera of untreated acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.