Studies on purine enzymes in experimental colitis

Although the role of adenosine deaminase (ADA), adenylate deaminase (AMP-DA ), purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is well documented in gastric and intestinal carcinoma, their role in inflammatory bowel diseases remains unk nown. In the present study, we investigated the profile of these enzymes in blood and intestinal tissues during colitis. Colitis induced in Wistar rat s by acetic acid was monitored by a marker enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO). Th e tissue levels of MPO increased on 1, 2, 5 and 6 days post-administration (PA) of acetic acid and declined to the control levels by day 7 PA. In para llel the blood levels of ADA and AMP-DA decreased on days 1, 2 and 5 withou t any significant change on days 6 and 7 PA. Similar observations were reco rded for these enzymes in the cytosolic extracts of colonic tissue specimen s. In contrast, PNP remained unaltered in both blood and tissue samples. Th ese findings suggest an inverse-relationship between inflammation and purin e deaminases in both blood and tissues.