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Ornithine decarboxylase (L-ornithine carboxylase, EC 4.1.1.17) and transglutaminase (R-glutaminylpeptide: amine 7-glutamyltransferase, EC 2.3.2.13), enzymes implicated in the regulation of growth processes, were studied in lymphocytes from untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A marked increase of ornithine decarboxylase activity was found in lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients when compared to normal human lymphocytes; in contrast, no transglutaminase activity was found in lymphocytes from untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is an inherited disease caused by a deficiency in thymidine phosphorylase and characterized by elevated systemic deoxyribonucleotides and gastrointestinal (GI) and neurological manifestations. We report the clinical and biochemical manifestations that were evaluated in a single patient before, during, and after pregnancy, over a period of 7 years. GI symptoms significantly improved, and plasma deoxyribonucleotide concentrations decreased during pregnancy. Within days after delivery, the patient's digestive symptoms recurred, coinciding with a rapid increase in plasma deoxyribonucleotide concentrations. We hypothesize that the clinico-metabolic improvements could be attributed to the enzyme replacement action of the placental thymidine phosphorylase.