A class of medications known as purine antagonists prevents purines from acting as necessary building blocks of DNA and RNA. These medications are frequently used to treat a range of illnesses, such as organ transplant rejection, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Azathioprine: This prodrug is transformed into the purine antagonist 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) by the body. It is used as an immunosuppressive medication to treat autoimmune conditions such inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as to avoid organ transplant rejection in recipients.6-Mercaptopurine, or 6-MP, is a purine antagonist that prevents DNA and RNA from being synthesized. It is used to treat inflammatory bowel disease and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).6-Thioguanine (6-TG): A purine antagonist that obstructs DNA and RNA synthesis, 6-thioguanine is similar to 6-MP. It is mainly used to treat inflammatory bowel illness and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF): This prodrug is transformed into the purine antagonist mycophenolic acid. It works as an immunosuppressive drug to stop organ transplant recipients from being rejected by preventing T and B cells from proliferating.The enzyme inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, which is involved in the de novo synthesis of guanosine nucleotides, is inhibited by mycophenolic acid (MPA). This inhibition is helpful in avoiding organ transplant rejection because it inhibits the growth of lymphocytes.Allopurinol: This xanthine oxidase inhibitor lowers the synthesis of uric acid, a purine metabolite, although it is not a purine antagonist in the conventional sense. It is used to treat hyperuricemia and gout by preventing the crystallization of uric acid.Febuxostat: A xanthine oxidase inhibitor used to treat hyperuricemia and gout, similar to allopurinol. It lowers serum uric acid levels by blocking the enzyme that produces it.Rasburicase: Rasburicase is a recombinant urate oxidase enzyme that facilitates the kidneys' easier excretion of allantoin, a more soluble form of uric acid. Tumor lysis syndrome, a side effect of cancer treatment marked by elevated blood uric acid levels, is prevented and treated with it.The significance of comprehending the mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications of these purine antagonists is underscored by their pivotal roles in the management of diverse medical diseases.
