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Levels of Polyamine Biosynthetic Decarboxylase Activities as Indicators of the Degree of Malignancy of Human Primary Central Nervous System Tumors

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Brain Oncology Biology, diagnosis and therapy

Part of the book series: Developments in Oncology ((DION,volume 52))

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Abstract

The polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine, which are ubiquitous organic cations of low molecular weight in all living organisms, are distributed in the different areas of mammalian central nervous system (CNS) (1–8). The levels of polyamines vary markedly between brain regions (9, 10). Areas with considerable white matter contain higher levels of spermidine, although this correlation with white matter is by no means perfect (10–12). These polyamines are known to be synthesized in human nervous tissues, because the presence of the four enzymes of the biosynthesis pathway of polyamines, i.e., L-ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) (ODC), S-adenosyl-Lmethionine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.50) (AMD), spermidine synthase (EC 2.5.1.16) and spermine synthase (EC 2.5.1.—) in mammalian CNS in now well documented (9,13,14). These polyamines can diffuse from human nervous tissues into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (15). It has been demonstrated that interconversion of polyamines can also take place in mammalian CNS (8, 16, 17). Although the physiological function of these amines is still not well understood at the molecular level, an abundant literature suggests that the concentrations of polyamines inside the eukaryotic cells are highly regulated and that polyamines play essential roles in cellular growth (whether normal or neoplastic) and differentiation (for review see 18, 19).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurological Institute “C. Besta”, University of Milano, via Mangiagalli, 31, 20133, Milano, Italy

    G. Luccarelli & G. Broggi

  2. Institute of General Pathology and C.N.R. Centre for Research in Cell Pathology, University of Milano, via Mangiagalli, 31, 20133, Milano, Italy

    M. E. Ferioli & G. Scalabrino

Authors
  1. G. Luccarelli
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  2. M. E. Ferioli
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  3. G. Broggi
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  4. G. Scalabrino
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Rennes, France

    M. Chatel

  2. Department of Neuropathology, University of Rennes, France

    F. Darcel

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Rennes, France

    J. Pecker

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© 1987 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht

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Luccarelli, G., Ferioli, M.E., Broggi, G., Scalabrino, G. (1987). Levels of Polyamine Biosynthetic Decarboxylase Activities as Indicators of the Degree of Malignancy of Human Primary Central Nervous System Tumors. In: Chatel, M., Darcel, F., Pecker, J. (eds) Brain Oncology Biology, diagnosis and therapy. Developments in Oncology, vol 52. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3347-7_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3347-7_23

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8003-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3347-7

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