Polyamine Oxidase Activity in Human Pregnancy Serum

Abstract

Summary The existence of a spermine oxidizing enzyme was established in human pregnancy serum by a radiochemical method, and a cross‐sectional study of its quantitative profile between 10 and 40 weeks gestation was undertaken. Though there was a wide scatter of values, the rise in the average activity was continuous and highly significant. The flavoprotein inhibitor, quinacrin, inhibited the enzyme activity, while the pyridoxal phosphate inhibitor, isoniazid, had no significant inhibitory effect suggesting that the enzyme is of tissue origin. The possible role of polyamines and their oxidation in physiological immunoregulation is discussed.

Polyamine-polyamine oxidase interaction: part of maternal protective mechanism against fetal rejection.

“…Altogether we studied 42 hands: 16 patients had the syndrome in both hands and 10 in only one. Patients who might have one of the recognised diseases associated with carpal tunnel syndrome were excluded.…”

The Distribution of Polyamine Oxidase Activity in the Fetomaternal Compartments

“…The serum PAO activity was estimated as described previously Illei and Morgan, 1979) and the results expressed in nmol/minute/litre.…”

“…IN a previous paper (Illei and Morgan, 1979) we described the presence of a spermine oxidising enzyme (polyamine oxidase, PAO) in pregnant serum with low levels during the first trimester, but a substantial and sustained rise throughout mid-and late pregnancy. We also raised the possibility that this enzyme might play an important role in the regulatory processes directing maternal immune reactions in preventing the rejection of the fetus (Illei and Morgan, 1979).…”

“…IN a previous paper (Illei and Morgan, 1979) we described the presence of a spermine oxidising enzyme (polyamine oxidase, PAO) in pregnant serum with low levels during the first trimester, but a substantial and sustained rise throughout mid-and late pregnancy. We also raised the possibility that this enzyme might play an important role in the regulatory processes directing maternal immune reactions in preventing the rejection of the fetus (Illei and Morgan, 1979). This assumption was based on previous reports that the polyamines, spermidine (SPD) and sperniine (SPM), reacting with calf serum PAO reversibly suppress mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation (Allen et al, 1977;Byrd et al, 1977;Rijke and Ballieux, 1978;Gaugas and Curzen, 1978).…”

Polyamines in Intestinal Adaptation and Disease

“…In pregnancy, however, the placenta pro duces copious quantities of the enzyme which 'spill' into the plasma [52,53], Preg nancy apart, unstimulated plasma DAO is at, or below, assay detection limits. How ever, as discussed above, the enzyme can be released from endothelial binding sites on the capillaries of the small bowel mucosal lamina propria, into the circulation by i.v.…”