Adenosine deaminase is not required for the generation of superoxide anion.

Neutrophils and macrophages generate superoxide anion during the respiratory burst in response to various stimuli, including microorganisms. It has recently been proposed that an important source of superoxide anion during the respiratory burst that stimulates murine macrophages is the sequential metabolism of adenosine via adenosine deaminase and xanthine oxidase to uric acid. Thus, the immunodeficiency state associated with adenosine deaminase deficiency may be caused at least in part by a defect in superoxide anion generation. The ability to generate superoxide anion of stimulated neutrophils isolated from three children with adenosine deaminase deficiency and associated severe combined immunodeficiency was tested. Neutrophils from all three patients were able to generate superoxide anion. One of these generated 19.1 nmol cytochrome c reduced/10(6) cells (normals = 5.3-33.0, mean 18.4 +/- 7.1) while the other two generated low normal levels. Neutrophils from all three children also generated more superoxide anion after addition of exogenous adenosine deaminase. Thus, no evidence to support a role for cellular adenosine deaminase in the release of superoxide anion by stimulated neutrophils was found. Although neutrophils from patients deficient in adenosine deaminase appear to have no inherent defect in the generation of superoxide anion, the abnormally high concentrations of adenosine found in the plasma of these patients could, in vivo, secondarily, inhibit superoxide anion release.