The effect of deazaadenosine analogues on the proliferation rate of cultured Vero cells.

Five adenosine analogues resistant to adenosine deaminase were analyzed for their effects on the proliferation on cultured Vero cells. Cells were exposed for 48 hr to various concentrations of 1-deazaadenosine (c1Ado), 3-deazaadenosine (c3Ado), 7-deazaadenosine (c7Ado), 1,3-dideazaadenosine (c1,3Ado) or 1,7-dideazaadenosine (c1,7Ado) and then counted with a hemocytometer. Results indicate that 1) whereas c7Ado produced a marked decrease in cell growth, c3Ado was toxic only at the highest concentration tested (30 microM), 2) c1Ado and c1,7Ado did not affect cell replication and 3) c1,3Ado produced a significant stimulation of cell proliferation. Further studies have suggested that none of the compounds tested is incorporated in the DNA.