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M Hershfield

Publications and source records attributed to M Hershfield.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Mitochondrial basis for immune deficiency. Evidence from purine nucleoside phosphorylase-deficient mice.

We generated purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP)-deficient mice to gain insight into the mechanism of immune deficiency disease associated with PNP deficiency in humans. Similar to the human disease, PNP deficiency in mice causes an immunodeficiency that affects T lymphocytes more severely than B lymphocytes. PNP knockout mice exhibit impaired thymocyte differentiation, reduced mitogenic and allogeneic responses, and decreased numbers of maturing thymocytes and peripheral T cells. T lymphocytes of PNP-deficient mice exhibit increased apoptosis in vivo and higher sensitivity to gamma irradiation in vitro. We propose that the immune deficiency in PNP deficiency is a result of inhibition of mitochondrial DNA repair due to the accumulation of dGTP in the mitochondria. The end result is increased sensitivity of T cells to spontaneous mitochondrial DNA damage, leading to T cell depletion by apoptosis.

Animals↗

[Treatment of adenosine deaminase deficiency with adenosine deaminase combined with polyethylene glycol].

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency is one the causes of severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome. Treatment was, until now, based on bone marrow transplantation. HLA identical bone marrow transplantation yields excellent results while those of HLA haploidentical bone marrow transplantation are not so good. A new therapeutic approach was developed recently, consisting of the intramuscular infusion of ADA enzyme covalently linked to polyethylene glycol (PEG-ADA). We report the results of this treatment in a 14 month-old child presenting with a partial form of ADA deficiency revealed by an opportunistic infection. This treatment corrected the immunodeficiency and the biochemical abnormalities as well. PEG-ADA infusions were well tolerated. The onset of an immunization against the ADA enzyme led to a drop in immunologic functions, which could be partially overcome by more frequent (biweekly) administration of the product. After a 18 month-follow-up the child is doing well, living normally at home. PEG-ADA represents a possible alternative for children presenting with ADA deficiency without any available HLA identical donor.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Comparison of red cell transfusion and polyethylene glycol-modified adenosine deaminase therapy in an adenosine deaminase-deficient child: measurement of erythrocyte deoxyadenosine triphosphate as a useful tool.

The effect of red cell transfusion and polyethylene glycol-modified adenosine deaminase therapy on biochemical abnormalities, clinical status, and immunologic function in an adenosine deaminase-deficient child was investigated. After red cell transfusions, erythrocyte deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP) concentrations decreased about 95% and were closely related to adenosine deaminase activities; deoxyadenosine diphosphate concentrations decreased only approximately 30%. The evolution of dATP levels was also closely related to the improvement in clinical status of the patient. However, immune function was not restored. After polyethylene glycol-modified adenosine deaminase therapy, the concentration of erythrocyte dATP decreased to undetectable levels correlated with an increase of T lymphocyte counts and an increase of lymphocyte responses to mitogens. Immune functions were restored only when dATP levels were below 15 mumols/L. It appears that red cell transfusion therapy is not sufficiently effective to reduce and maintain erythrocyte dATP levels at values compatible with normal immune function. On the contrary, polyethylene glycol-modified adenosine deaminase therapy is a suitable treatment to reduce dATP levels to near undetectable values, allowing the immune function to be restored, dATP measurement is a very useful tool for monitoring and evaluating the degree of efficiency of therapy in adenosine deaminase deficiency.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

ADA deficiency treatment.

In the report "X-ray diffraction to 302 giga-pascals: High-pressure crystal structure of cesium iodide" by H. K. Mao et al. (3 Nov., p. 649), reference 10, to a paper by R. Reichlin et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 56, 2858 (1986)], was incorrectly numbered (9) in the text (p. 649, column 3, line 1; p. 650, column 1, line 49).

Adenosine Deaminase↗