Sensitivity of leukemic human null lymphocytes to deoxynucleosides

The growth of cultured leukemic T-lymphocytes is readily inhibited by deoxynucleosides, particularly thymidine, deoxyguanosine, and deoxyadenosine. By contrast, Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-lymphocytes are relatively resistant to deoxynucleosides. Growth inhibition correlates with the development of high deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pools following exposure to deoxynucleosides. Leukemic T-lymphocytes are deficient in ecto-5'-nucleotidase (5'-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.5) activity, and it has been postulated that deficiency of this enzyme decreases the capacity of these cells to degrade deoxyribonucleotides, rendering them sensitive to deoxynucleosides. We find that the sensitivity of cultured null-type leukemic lymphocytes to growth inhibition of deoxynucleosides is similar to that of T-cells. However, the null cells contain normal levels of ecto-5'-nucleotidase. We infer that ecto-5'-nucleotidase deficiency does not have a central role in determining the deoxynucleoside sensitivity of leukemic lymphocytes.