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Putrescine dependent growth of mycoplasma infected mammalian cells
Abstract:
The aliphatic diamine putrescine, a metabolic precursor of the polyamines spermidine and spermine, markedly stimulated the growth of a murine lymphoblastoid cell line (R 1.1) infected with Mycoplasma orale, under conditions of arginine limitation. The diamine acted by suppressing the growth of the mycoplasma, which use arginine as a major energy source, and thereby prevented the depletion of arginine from the medium. The antimycoplasmal effects of putrescine occurred at concentrations that were neither stimulatory nor toxic to uninfected cells.
Insights
The diamine putrescine stimulated cell growth by inhibiting Mycoplasma orale, a pathogen that depletes arginine. This occurred without harming uninfected cells, offering a potential therapeutic strategy.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Polyamines like spermidine and spermine are crucial for cell growth.
- Mycoplasma orale utilizes arginine as a primary energy source.
- Arginine availability is a limiting factor for certain cell cultures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of putrescine on Mycoplasma orale-infected cells.
- To determine if putrescine can mitigate arginine depletion caused by Mycoplasma orale.
- To assess the impact of putrescine on cell growth under arginine-limited conditions.
Main Methods:
- Culturing a murine lymphoblastoid cell line (R 1.1).
- Infecting the cell line with Mycoplasma orale.
- Supplementing cultures with varying concentrations of putrescine under arginine limitation.
- Monitoring cell growth and arginine levels.
Main Results:
- Putrescine significantly stimulated the growth of Mycoplasma orale-infected cells.
- Putrescine suppressed the growth of Mycoplasma orale.
- Arginine depletion from the medium was prevented by putrescine.
- Effective concentrations of putrescine showed no toxicity to uninfected cells.
Conclusions:
- Putrescine exhibits antimycoplasmal activity against Mycoplasma orale.
- Putrescine can support host cell growth by preserving arginine availability.
- Putrescine represents a potential therapeutic agent for Mycoplasma infections without host cell toxicity.