Polyamines, diamine oxidase, and ornithine decarboxylase activity in colorectal cancer and in normal surrounding mucosa

Abstract

We investigated the polyamine levels [putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm)] and their metabolism by simultaneously considering the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and diamine oxidase (DAO) activities in human colorectal cancer and in normal surrounding tissue. Single and total polyamine levels were significantly higher in the neoplastic tissue than in the surrounding mucosa from the same patients. Furthermore, the ODC activity was significantly higher and the DAO activity significantly lower in the neoplastic tissue than in the surrounding mucosa. Polyamine levels and enzymatic activities did not correlate with the clinical and histologic characteristics of patients. In normal tissue samples, no correlation was found between single and total polyamine levels and enzymatic activities (both DAO and ODC). On the contrary, in colorectal neoplastic samples, significant and positive correlations were found between the levels of total polyamines, Spd, and Spm and the ODC activity. In the same specimens, DAO activity was related to Spd levels and the Spd/Spm ratio, but, in those cases, the correlation was negative. Thus, our findings suggest that, during the neoplastic growth of the colorectal mucosa, the balance between polyamine degradation and biosynthesis is disengaged from the control exerted by the two enzymes.

The Influence of Lactobacillus brevis on Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity and Polyamine Profiles in Helicobacter pylori‐Infected Gastric Mucosa

“…This enzyme is able to catalyze the catabolism of arginine and to affect the biosynthesis of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine). In mammals, polyamine synthesis starts with arginine, which is catabolyzed by arginase into ornithine and urea; ornithine is subsequently decarboxylated and this step is governed by ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), an enzyme representing the first and rate-limiting step in the polyamine biosynthetic pathway [22]. Their functions are linked to the regulation of DNA, RNA, protein synthesis, membrane stability, and cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase [21].…”

Histamine metabolism and CD8 + T cell infiltration in colon adenomas

“…The role of histamine in tumour development [8] has already been demonstrated and the involvement of histamine in colon tumour cell growth has also been established [5]. Also this function was postulated in the multistage model of carcinogenesis in association with inflammatory responses [6].…”

“…High histamine content and biosynthesis has been found in experimental and human neoplasias (e. g. colon cancer) [2,3]. This may be due to elevated histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity and/or decreased diamine oxidase (DAO) activity [4,5]. It is accepted that mucosa of the colon is in constant subacute stimulated stage due to the bacteria colonizing it [6].…”

Effects of testosterone and 17, β– estradiol on the polyamine metabolism in cultivated normal rat kidney epithelial cells

“…Numerous data associate the rapid growth with an increase in ODC and DAO activities in normal and pathological conditions (Perin et al, 1985;Linsalata et al, 1993;Wolvekamp and Bernin, 1994;Cymborowska et al, 1997). The induction of ODC leads to accumulation of the reaction productputrescine.…”