Serum acid alpha-naphthyl phosphatase activity

Rapid preparation of a distinct lysosomal population from myelinating mouse brain using Percoll gradients

To study the vesicular lysosome-associated transport and the metabolism of some brain macromolecules (in particular, sialoglycoconjugates), we developed a rapid procedure to obtain a distinct lysosomal population starting from myelinating mouse brain. This procedure is based on an initial differential centrifugation step producing a 1,000-17,500-g fraction (P2), followed by isopycnic centrifugation of fraction P2 on a self-generated colloidal silica gel (Percoll) gradient. The heaviest subfraction thus obtained is very rich in acid hydrolase activities like beta-galactosidase, arylsulfatase A, and acid phosphatase. The enrichment of these enzymes is approximately 100-fold as compared with the starting homogenate, whereas the markers of other subcellular organelles, such as mitochondria, plasma membranes, or the Golgi apparatus, are virtually absent. The lysosomal preparation contains approximately 12-14% of the total acid hydrolase activities, with a protein yield of approximately 0.12%. Electron microscopy shows that the lysosomal fraction is composed of an approximately 90% pure population of lysosomes. Therefore, the procedure described here is suitable for obtaining a highly purified lysosome preparation from myelinating mouse brain.

Tumour markers in prostatic carcinoma. A comparison of prostate-specific antigen with acid phosphatase

A study was performed on 130 men to compare the level of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in controls, patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and patients with prostatic carcinoma. The results showed that all 30 normal controls below 40 years of age had values less than 10 ng/ml. Of the 40 patients with BPH, all aged over 40 years, 13 (32.5%) had raised levels above 10 ng/ml. In the 60 patients with prostatic carcinoma, all over 40 years, 24 had localised disease (MO) and 36 had metastatic spread (M1), as judged by isotope bone scan. In patients with MO disease, 16 (66.6%) had raised PSA levels compared with 34 (94.5%) of those with M1 disease. The corresponding figures for raised prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) values were 4% in the MO group and 52.7% in the M1 group. PSA levels reflected neither the histological grade nor the local stage of the tumour and were of no value in estimating tumour burden. PSA was found to be a valuable index in the management of prostatic cancer because of this sensitivity. Stable disease not requiring hormonal manipulation was reflected by unchanging levels of PSA, whereas progressive disease requiring hormonal therapy was reflected by an alteration in the PSA levels corresponding to the patients' response. The same group of progressive disease patients showed only a 50% rise in serum PAP levels, confirming the greater sensitivity of PSA as a measure of prostate cancer. PSA measurements should be included in any further trials on prostatic carcinoma and should be regarded as a standard marker for evaluating response to therapy.

Acid phosphatase in prostatic tissue homogenates from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic carcinoma

Acid phosphatase activity biochemically in the primary tumor of 20 patients with prostatic carcinoma, was studied in an attempt to understand the basis for a correlation or lack of correlation between serum and/or bone marrow acid phosphatase levels and the presence and/or clinical behavior of prostatic carcinoma. The enzyme activity was similarly measured in 19 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia as controls. On the average, enzyme activities were lower (P less than 0.002) in the tissues from patients with carcinoma. There was no correlation of enzyme activity in tumor with the age of the patient, stage of disease, degree of differentiation of the tumor, or serum acid phosphatase activity.

Prostatic trauma and release of acid phosphatase. Radioimmunochemical and enzymatic comparison

Radioimmunoassay for prostatic acid phosphatase and a conventional enzymatic method using alpha-naphthyl phosphate were employed to document the changes in serum levels of this enzyme following transurethral prostatectomy and prostatic massage. Thirty-four patients with histologically proved benign prostatic hyperplasia and 120 controls were studied. Consistent parallel elevations were noted after surgical trauma. A rapid clearance was observed with normal levels returning at twenty-four hours. Prostatic massage did not elicit a change by either method.

Bone marrow acid phosphatase in staging of prostatic cancer: how reliable is it?

To evaluate the reliability of bone marrow acid phosphatase in the staging of prostatic carcinoma we analyzed 50 bone marrow samples collected at random from the hematology service at this hospital. The samples were assayed for acid phosphatase content by a colorimetric method using sodium thymolphthalein monophosphate as a substrate and by 2 immunochemical assays developed at our laboratory (counter immunoelectrophoresis and radioimmunoassay). We found a high percentage (61 per cent) of falsely positive results in patients with various hematological diseases without evidence of prostatic carcinoma by the colorimetric evaluation. All of these patients except 1 had negative immunochemical assay. Until a specific assay for prostatic acid phosphatase is developed for clinical use we caution the use of a single elevation of bone marrow acid phosphatase as a parameter of metastatic disease.

Use of different chemical methods for acid phosphatase in cases of rape

Generally acid phosphatase (ACP) assay is used for testing cases of alleged rape. Comparison of three different chemical methods for Acid Phosphatase (Andersch's method with p-nitrophenyl-phosphate substrate and tartrate inhibitor (A-Tart), Roy's method with thymolphthalein phosphate substrate (R-TMP), and Babson's method with alphanaphthyl phosphate substrate) indicated that Roy's method (R-TMP) should be the preferred one. This method had both acceptable sensitivity and confirmed specificity. Our data confirmed that the vaginal wash of normal healthy women has a very low level of ACP activity. Because of inconclusive data in the literature regarding this ACP level, a normal and equivocal range of ACP was suggested until more is known about causes and interferences. Possible sources of normal ACP activity in the wash fluids were also indicated.

An assessment of serum acid and alkaline phosphatase determinations in prostatic cancer with a clinical validation of an acid phosphatase assay utilizing adenosine 3'-monophosphate as substrate

Serum acid phosphatase (AcPase) was measured by a colorimetric method utilizing adenosine 3' -monophosphate as substrate in 389 patients. In about half the cases blood was taken shortly after a rectal examination. The upper reference limit (mean + 2SD) for 116 cases with miscellaneous illness after eliminating outliers was 4.1 International Units per litre (U/I) at 37 degrees C, and no correlation existed between AcPase activity and age in these subjects (r = 0.040). Eight of 18 patients with untreated carcinoma confined within the prostate gland had AcPase activities below 4.1 U/l, and all of 27 cases with extension to pelvic soft tissues or to bone exceeded this value. AcPase activities above 4.1 U/l were found in 6% of cases with benign hypertrophy of the prostate, in 5% of cases with non-prostatic cancer, and in none of 22 cases with other urological illness. Raised serum alkaline phosphatase (APase) activity was found in 60% of patients with untreated prostatic cancer and in only 6% of patients free of prostatic cancer, in most of whom there was a clinical explanation for the elevation. The correlation between the two phosphatase activities was not significant (r = 0.294). While APase activity does not reflect the stage of the disease as closely as AcPase activity, and is not so frequently elevated, it provided useful confirmation of the diagnosis in five patients of the present series whose AcPase levels were normal or only minimally elevated.

Colorimetric determination of serum acid phosphatase activity using adenosine 3'-monophosphate as substrate

The hydrolysis of adenosine 3'-monophosphate by serum acid phosphatase has been coupled to the liberation of ammonia from the adenosine generated through the action of exogenous adenosine deaminase. The ammonia is measured at the end of the incubation by a modification of the phenol-hypochlorite reaction of Berthelot. Optimum conditions for the enzyme reaction have been defined. Inhibition of the Berthelot reaction by the serum used in the assay is small, and may be compensated by a correction factor. Although the value for the control is high in relation to the test over the normal range, this is largely outweighed by the good sensitivity and precision of the method. The substrate is not significantly hydrolysed by erythrocyte acid phosphatase within the limits encountered in haemolysed sera. Experience of the method in routine hospital diagnosis compared favorably with that of a standard method employing disodium phenyl phosphate as substrate. It is suggested that activities greater than 3.1 IU/l should be further investigated and those greater than 3.7 IU/l should be regarded as definitely raised. The stability of human serum AcPase when promptly separated and held at 4 degrees C or - 20 degrees C was confirmed. At room temperature, acidification to pH 6.0 greatly improved stability.