Autoimmune hepatitis or hepatic involvement in SLE?--A case report

We report a patient with autoimmune hepatitis, who simultaneously satisfied the 1982 revised ARA criteria for systemic lupus erythematous and emphasize the difficulty in differentiating these two diseases. In addition, current concepts of a possible immunological distinction between autoimmune hepatitis and hepatic involvement in SLE are reviewed.

Study of the metabolism of pyrazinamide using a high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of urine samples

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of pyrazinamide and its metabolites in urine. Study of the metabolism of pyrazinamide by this method demonstrated that 5-hydroxypyrazinamide excretion was compatible with pyrazinoic acid excretion and allopurinol decreased in vivo conversion of pyrazinamide to 5-hydroxypyrazinamide and blocked that of pyrazinoic acid to 5-hydroxypyrazinoic acid.

Partial purification and characterization of 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from rat liver microsomes

An NADPH-dependent 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase acting on 3 alpha-hydroxy-7-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid was partially purified 160-fold with a yield of 13% from rat liver microsomes using DEAE-cellulose, hydroxyapatite and Affi-Gel Blue column chromatography. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 91.3 nmol chenodeoxycholic acid formed/min per mg of protein. The reaction was reversible, and the optimum pH of the enzyme for the oxidation was about 8.5, whereas that for the reduction was about 5.0 A molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be about 130,000 by Superose 6TM gel filtration chromatography. The apparent Km value for 3 alpha-hydroxy-7-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid was 35.7 microM and that for NADPH was 90.9 microM. The preferred substrate for the enzyme was 3 alpha-hydroxy-7-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid rather than 3 alpha,12 alpha-dihydroxy-7-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid, a 7-keto-bile acid analogue. The enzyme also preferred the unconjugated form to the conjugated forms. The enzyme activity was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate; however, the inhibition was prevented by addition of reduced form of glutathione to the reaction mixture, indicating that the enzyme requires a sulfhydryl group for activity.

Novel cholinesterase expression in the HuH-7 cell line

On polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis, normal serum cholinesterase was separated into seven isozymes (I-VII from the anodic to the cathodic side). The enzyme of the conditioned medium of the HuH-7 cell line, established from a human hepatoma, had two main isozymes. The one migrating faster was located slightly to the cathodic side of band II of the normal serum enzyme, and the other, a slower one, electrophoresed at the same position as that of band VI of the normal serum enzyme. Aside from these two isozymes, a faint band with enzyme activity sometimes appeared at a position just cathodic or very close to the position of band I of the normal serum isozymes. The effect of some inhibitors and activators on both the normal serum enzyme and the enzyme of the conditioned medium was similar, but lectin-binding properties of the two enzymes were different with Ricinus communis agglutinin I, concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin. These results suggest that the difference in sugar moieties of both enzymes is expressed in D-galactose, D-mannose and N-acetylglucosamine.

Isocholic acid formation from 7 alpha,12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid with human liver enzyme

The formation of isocholic acid from 7 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid by human liver preparations was examined in vitro. Liver preparations were incubated with 7 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid at pH 7.4 in a phosphate buffer containing NADPH or NADH. The products formed were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results showed that 7 alpha,12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid was reduced mainly to isocholic acid and to cholic acid in a smaller amount in the presence of NADPH, while it was reduced only to cholic acid in the presence of NADH. The reducing enzyme participating in the formation of isocholic acid was localized largely in the cytosol and had more specificity to the unconjugated form as substrate than to the conjugated forms. 3-Keto bile acid analogues, 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic and 7 alpha-hydroxy-3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acids were not reduced to the corresponding iso-bile acids by the cytosol in the same conditions used in the isocholic acid formation and the activity of the enzyme catalyzing the reduction of 7 alpha,12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid to isocholic acid was not inhibited by the addition of 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid or 7 alpha-hydroxy-3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid to the reaction mixture. Furthermore, on column chromatography of Affi-Gel Blue, the peak of the enzyme catalyzing the reduction of 7 alpha,12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid to isocholic acid was clearly distinguished from that of the enzyme catalyzing the reduction of 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid to isolithocholic acid and that of alcohol dehydrogenase. These results indicate that this enzyme catalyzing the reduction of 7 alpha,12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid to isocholic acid is different from the enzyme(s) catalyzing the reduction 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic and 7 alpha-hydroxy-3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acids to the corresponding iso-bile acids and from alcohol dehydrogenase, and has a stereospecific character for 7 alpha,12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid.

Thrombocytosis in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma

Thrombocytosis above 40.0 X 10(4)/mm3 occurred in five of six (83%) patients with malignant mesothelioma. In contrast, the incidence of thrombocytosis was 7.5% in patients with lung adenocarcinoma, 12.5% in squamous cell carcinoma, 5.1% in small cell carcinoma, and 41.7% in large cell carcinoma, respectively. The platelet count in large cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in other cell types of lung cancer; however, the platelet count in malignant mesothelioma was much higher than that in large cell carcinoma. These results show that the incidence of thrombocytosis seems to be high in malignant mesothelioma, although the mechanism is thus far unknown.

Microheterogeneity of Kasahara isozyme

The microheterogeneity of Kasahara isozyme was investigated by affinity electrophoresis with Con A as the affinity ligand in combination with polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. On two-dimensional Con A-containing agarose gel electrophoresis, the Kasahara isozyme was separated into three molecular species. Kasahara isozyme electrophoresed as two distinct bands with enzyme activity on polyacrylamide gradient gel, but liver, intestinal or placental alkaline phosphatase showed only one distinct spot or band on both electrophoreses. One of the three molecular species of Kasahara isozyme separated by Con A-containing agarose gel electrophoresis was extracted from the gel and applied to the polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis again, resulting in the same electrophoretic pattern as that of the original Kasahara isozyme. These findings indicated that the Kasahara isozyme consists of at least four molecular species. The same analysis was conducted with alkaline phosphatase of the HuH-6 cl-5 cell line, which has been reported to release an alkaline phosphatase closely resembling the Kasahara isozyme, and the results were compared with those obtained with the Kasahara isozyme.

Urinary excretion of pseudouridine in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

The urinary concentration of pseudouridine, primarily a degradation product of transfer ribonucleic acid, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography in 23 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma, 13 patients with liver cirrhosis, and 24 healthy controls. The urinary concentration of pseudouridine in the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly higher than that in the patients with liver cirrhosis or the healthy controls. Sixteen (70%) of the 23 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had urinary pseudouridine levels higher than the mean value for the healthy controls plus 2 standard deviations. Nine of the 13 patients (69%) who had a serum alpha-fetoprotein level below 400 ng/ml, had elevated urinary pseudouridine levels. Thus, the two markers, urinary pseudouridine and serum alpha-fetoprotein in combination, which were detected in a total of 19 of the 23 patients (83%) with hepatocellular carcinoma, are considered to serve as complementary markers for the diagnosis of this disease.

Urinary pseudouridine as a tumor marker in patients with small cell lung cancer

The urinary concentration of pseudouridine, primarily a degradation product of transfer ribonucleic acid, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography in 22 patients with small cell lung cancer, 30 patients with non-small cell lung cancer, 13 patients with pulmonary infectious diseases and 24 healthy controls. The concentration of pseudouridine in both groups of patients with lung cancer was on the average significantly higher than that in the patients with pulmonary infectious diseases or in healthy controls. Thirteen (59%) of the patients with small cell lung cancer and 8 (27%) of those with non-small cell lung cancer had a urinary pseudouridine level above the mean value plus 2 for the healthy controls. In 11 patients followed up during chemotherapy, urinary pseudouridine levels changed almost in parallel with the changes in the clinical responses.

Glycosaminoglycan in malignant pleural mesothelioma

The quantitative analysis on glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in the tumor tissues of five patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma and in the pleural fluid of two patients was performed with the use of biochemical methods. In the tumor tissues, it was found that the average of the total amount of GAG was more than 7.9 times as high as that in adenocarcinoma of the lung, and that hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate were main constituents of mesothelioma GAG. However, there was no significant difference in the content of dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate between this neoplasm and adenocarcinoma. In the pleural fluid, the amount of hyaluronic acid was about 40 to 230 times higher than that in adenocarcinoma of the lung with the increment of chondroitin sulfate (11-87 times). These findings suggest that a marked increase in the total amount of GAG and the elevation of either the hyaluronic acid or the chondroitin sulfate level, or both, are characteristic abnormalities in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Hypercholinesterasemia with isoenzymic alteration in a family

A family with hypercholinesterasemia with isoenzymic alteration is reported. The propositus, a 55-year-old woman, was admitted to our hospital because of diabetes mellitus. Because her cholinesterase activity (delta pH 3.2) was supranormal, with no other abnormal liver-function test result throughout the hospitalization period, and was independent of her disease state, we investigated whether this condition might be familial. We studied six of her 17 family members in three generations. All six had above-normal serum cholinesterase activity. Gradient gel electrophoresis on polyacrylamide showed that the normal control individuals had seven isoenzymes, but all the family members with hypercholinesterasemia had two additional isoenzymes. The enzymic properties of the affected members were similar to those of the normal individuals. Hypercholinesterasemia in this family seems to be the result of an increased number of enzyme molecules, but how this isoenzymic alteration emerged remains obscure.

Hypercholinesterasemia with isoenzymic alteration in a family

A family with hypercholinesterasemia with isoenzymic alteration is reported. The propositus, a 55-year-old woman, was admitted to our hospital because of diabetes mellitus. Because her cholinesterase activity (delta pH 3.2) was supranormal, with no other abnormal liver-function test result throughout the hospitalization period, and was independent of her disease state, we investigated whether this condition might be familial. We studied six of her 17 family members in three generations. All six had above-normal serum cholinesterase activity. Gradient gel electrophoresis on polyacrylamide showed that the normal control individuals had seven isoenzymes, but all the family members with hypercholinesterasemia had two additional isoenzymes. The enzymic properties of the affected members were similar to those of the normal individuals. Hypercholinesterasemia in this family seems to be the result of an increased number of enzyme molecules, but how this isoenzymic alteration emerged remains obscure.

[The effect of lithium carbonate against leukopenia during systemic chemotherapy in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung]

To investigate whether lithium carbonate ameliorates the leukopenia and infectious complication that accompany systemic chemotherapy, we studied 19 patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung receiving combination chemotherapy. Eight patients received systemic chemotherapy and lithium carbonate and 11 patients received systemic chemotherapy alone. The mean leukocyte count nadir during chemotherapy was significantly higher in the patients of the lithium group than in the patients of the control group (p less than 0.05). Percentage of infectious complication related to leukopenia was lower in the lithium group than in the control group, although there was no significant difference between these two groups. There was almost no significant side effect except for liver dysfunction in one patient. We therefore believe that lithium carbonate is an effective and safe drug against leukopenia during cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Reduction of 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid to lithocholic and isolithocholic acids by human liver cytosol in vitro

The formation of lithocholic and isolithocholic acids from 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid by human liver cytosol was examined in vitro. Liver cytosol was incubated at various pH levels with 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid in a phosphate buffer containing NADPH or NADH; the products formed were analyzed by gas chromatography. Results showed that human liver cytosol reduced 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid to lithocholic acid at a pH level of 7.0 or above and to isolithocholic acid at a pH level of 6.0 or below when NADPH was used as a coenzyme, and it was reduced to isolithocholic acid only when NADH was used. Furthermore, two peaks for the reducing enzymes could be clearly found by column chromatography of Affi-Gel Blue. These results indicate that human liver cytosol contains two enzymes acting on reduction of 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid to lithocholic and isolithocholic acids, which are dependent on the pH level and the use of NADPH or NADH in vitro. Since the 3 beta-dehydrogenation was inhibited by the addition of pyrazole, an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor or ethanol, and the major peak of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase coincided with the peak of alcohol dehydrogenase on Affi-Gel Blue chromatography, at least some of the cytosolic 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase seemed to be identical to or to have characteristics similar to alcohol dehydrogenase.

Reduction of 7-ketolithocholic acid to chenodeoxycholic acid by rat liver preparations in vitro

The formation of chenodeoxycholic acid via 7-ketolithocholic acid by rat liver preparations was examined in vitro. Results showed that a rat liver preparation reduced 7-ketolithocholic acid mainly to chenodeoxycholic acid and to ursodeoxycholic acid in a smaller amount, and that the reductase required NADPH but not NADH as coenzyme and was mainly localized in the microsomes.

[Effect of adriamycin, mitomycin-C, and tegafur (AMF) chemotherapy on advanced lung cancer]

Seven patients with advanced inoperable carcinoma of the lung were treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of adriamycin, mitomycin-C, and tegafur (AMF therapy). There was, at least, no progress of the carcinoma during treatment and objective response was obtained in 28.6% of patients. With regard to side effects, leukopenia and gastrointestinal symptoms were found in each of 3 patients.

Cerebral subcortical calcification and hypoparathyroidism--a case report and review of the literature

Hypoparathyroidism is known to exhibit various neurological manifestations, but most of the neurological disorders seen in this condition are motor ones, and involuntary movement is rarely encountered. Basal ganglion calcification is a common feature in hypoparathyroidism. But calcification of the cerebral cortex is, to our knowledge, extremely rare with only nine previously documented cases reported. We report a case of both involuntary movement and extensive cortical calcification with some reference to the literature. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between neurological disorders and intracranial calcification.

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in a newly established cell line from human renal carcinoma, OUR-10

A newly established cell line, OUR-10, from human renal carcinoma seems to have the same gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase as the novel one which was found recently in renal carcinoma tissue; the enzymic properties such as electrophoretic mobility, Km value, molecular weight, thermostability, the effects of urea, sodium dodecyl sulfate and sulfhydryl reagents, the effects of amino acids, cations and EDTA, and the binding behavior to a concanavalin A-Sepharose column were the same as those of the novel gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase found in renal carcinoma tissue. The immunological properties of the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) of OUR-10 examined by inhibition tests and tests of cross-reactivity with anti-normal kidney GGTP antibody were also the same as those of the novel gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. These results may mean that the novel gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase originates from the cancer cells, and can be used as a marker for identification of this cell line, OUR-10.

Morphologic and biochemical characteristics of human kidney cells in vitro

In vitro cultivated cells derived from normal human renal cortex were characterized morphologically and biochemically. Although the epithelial monolayer was composed of heterogeneous cells, it included cells with a surface structure similar to microvilli as well as some resembling the desmosome between neighboring cells. Enzymatic studies revealed a marked decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity, and the activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was also reduced to about one-fifth of that in the original tissue. The electrophoretic mobility of the enzyme was not identical with that of normal kidney or of the novel enzyme in renal neoplastic tissue. Lactate dehydrogenase activity was similar to that of normal kidney tissue but the isozyme pattern was completely inverted. These cells responded to the addition of 10 ng per ml of parathyroid hormone in culture medium and there was a 33 fold increase in intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Estrogen specific binding protein was not detectable in the monolayer cells. These results clearly indicated that the biologic transformation observed in the cultivated normal cells was not attributable to simple fetalism or dedifferentiation, but was a more complicated process.

Further investigations on a novel gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in human renal carcinoma

The enzymic and immunological properties of a novel gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase found in human renal carcinoma tissues were investigated further in comparison with those of the normal kidney enzyme. On isoelectric focusing, the novel gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase separated into two main forms, having pI values below 3.6, while the normal kidney enzyme separated into multi-molecular forms with pI values of 4.0-5.0. Neuraminidase treatment diminished the difference between these two enzymes, the products of the novel enzyme and the normal kidney having pI values of 5.4 and 5.6, respectively. The percentages of the total activity of the novel gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase binding with Con A before and after neuraminidase treatment were about 40% and 80%, respectively, while the corresponding percentages of the activity of the normal kidney enzyme were less that 10% and about 25%, respectively. The novel gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was immunologically identical with the normal kidney enzyme in the activity inhibition test and the double diffusion test. The present data suggest that the novel gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase has the same antigen site as the normal kidney enzyme, but differs from the latter at least in its sialic acid content and in some other carbohydrate moieties.

gamma-Glutamyltransferase from human hepatoma tissue in comparison with normal liver enzyme

gamma-Glutamyltransferase was solubilized from human hepatoma tissues by bromelain treatment, and some of its properties were compared with those of the normal adult liver enzyme. An electrophoretic study showed a slightly different mobility between the two enzymes before and after neuraminidase treatment. The hepatoma tissue enzyme was distinguished from the normal liver enzyme by decreased affinity to Con A. However, the enzymes from the two sources were found to be very similar or identical with respect to molecular weight, Michaelis constant, pH optimum, thermostability, effect of various L-amino acids as acceptors, behavior to divalent cations or ethylenediaminetetraacetate, inhibition by urea or sodium dodecyl sulfate, and immunological properties. These results suggest that the hepatoma tissue gamma-glutamyltransferase is largely due to altered glycosylation of this glycoprotein in hepatoma cells.

Renal cell carcinoma having heterogeneous histological appearance and homogeneous enzymatic property

A case of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) presenting various histologic growth patterns, including papillary, tubular and solid arrangements, and an area resembling sarcoma are described. In order to identify RCC of high versatility of renal carcinosarcoma, electrophoretic studies of tissue alkaline phosphatase (Al-P) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP), as well as histochemical studies of these enzymes, were conducted. The Al-P was proved to be bond type alone and the gamma-GTP corresponded with the novel isozyme associated with RCC tissue. Moreover, these two enzymes were found to be distributed in every part of different histologic appearance. It was concluded from these results that the histologic pleomorphism of the case herein reported was due to morphologic transformation of the neoplastic cells sharing essentially identical enzymatic nature.

Lactate dehydrogenase in human renal carcinoma tissues

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and isoenzyme were determined in 27 human renal carcinoma (RC) tissues. Although LDH-1 and LDH-2 were predominant in the normal kidney, a completely inverted isoenzyme pattern was observed in 16 carcinomas. The others, however, showed either a normal or an incompletely inverted pattern. The LDH activity in the tumours with a completely inverted pattern was significantly higher than the activity of incompletely inverted or normal kidney pattern. It was also found that the isoenzyme pattern was more closely correlated with cell type than the grade of malignancy of the tumour, 14 out of the 16 cases of the completely inverted pattern being of the clear cell type, and 9 out of the 11 cases of incompletely inverted or normal kidney pattern being of either granular cell or mixed cell type. These results seemed to well substantiate an opinion that in clear cells anaerobic glycolysis provides a major energy source, whereas granular cells seek energy source primarily in TCA cycle and subsequent oxidative phosphorylation.

Characterization of an established cell line from human renal carcinoma

A cell line, designated as OUR-10, has been established from a renal carcinoma in a Japanese woman. This cell line forms monolayers of polygonal epithelial cells with scattered round or dendritic cells and exhibits multilayering. With electron microscopy, differentiated surface structures that resemble the microvilli characteristic of renal carcinomas can be seen even at the 60th transfer. The cells have a hypodiploid karyotype with modal numbers of 39 and 40. No marker chromosomes were seen, but definite nonrandom loss of three chromosomes in Group D and one in Group E were recognized. The doubling time was estimated as approximately 32 hr in exponentially growing cultures, and the cells formed colonies in soft agar with an average efficiency of 25%. Heterotransplantation into the cheek pouch of immunosuppressed hamsters produced tumors that were histologically similar to the original cancerous tissue. The electrophoretic mobility of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase extracted from the cells coincided with that of a novel isozyme found in human renal carcinoma tissue, and the genetic phenotype of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was proved to be the B phenotype. The antigenic structure of HLA was determined as HLA-A2, 11; B5, 40, which was the same as that of peripheral blood lymphocytes of the woman with renal carcinoma.

Another Kasahara-variant alkaline phosphatase in renal cell carcinomas

Another Kasahara-variant alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme was found in 2 out of 25 human renal cell carcinoma tissues. This enzyme electrophoresed in a single diffuse band which is cathodal to but continuous with the liver alkaline phosphatase. After neuraminidase treatment, this enzyme electrophoresed in the same position as that of neuraminidase-treated Kasahara isoenzyme. The enzymic properties of another neuraminidase-treated Kasahara-variant enzyme such as inhibitions by L-phenylalanine, L-homoarginine, L-tryptophan, and L-leucine, effects of inorganic phosphate, urea, and sodium dodecyl sulfate, heat stability, and the reactivity with concanavalin-A are consistent with those of Kasahara isoenzyme. On Ouchterlony's double diffusion, the precipitin lines of Kasahara and the new variant enzyme produced by antibody to Kasahara isoenzyme fused completely. These facts may indicate the occurrence of another Kasahara-variant isoenzyme.

Alteration of hexosaminidase isozymes in human renal carcinoma

The activity and isozyme patterns of hexosaminidase in human renal carcinoma were studied in comparison with those of normal kidney. Hexosaminidase in extracts from normal kidney and renal carcinoma tissue could be separated into two major forms [hexosaminidase A (Hex A) and hexosaminidase B (Hex B)] by Cellogel electrophoresis or by diethylaminoethyl cellulose column chromatography. All of 10 renal carcinoma tissues showed a low activity ratio of Hex A to Hex B, as compared with the ratio in normal kidney; the ratio in renal carcinoma tissue was between 0.61 and 2.21 (mean, 1.30), while that in normal kidney was between 2.50 and 4.52 (mean, 3.46). Hexosaminidase activity and the ratio of Hex A to Hex B in renal carcinoma tissue were independent of the cell type and the differentiation grade of carcinoma tissue. Hex A and Hex B of renal carcinoma tissue differed from each other in physicochemical properties such as pH dependence of enzyme activity, thermostability, and Km's for two synthetic substrates, but each isozyme maintained its same physicochemical properties whether from normal or from carcinoma tissue. The isozyme patterns of cultured renal carcinoma cells and placenta were similar to those of the carcinoma tissue. The results presented here indicate that hexosaminidase isozymes in renal carcinoma tissue express at least oncoplacental patterns.

Purification and enzymatic properties of rat serum carboxylesterase

Rat serum carboxylesterase [carboxylic ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.1] was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, QAE Sephadex A-50 and brushite, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. This purified enzyme was shown to be a single protein band on slab gel electrophoresis and its final specific activity was 49.5 units/mg protein. This enzyme was very sensitive to diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) but not to p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB), eserine, o-iodosobenzoate, NaF or ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The pH profile of the reactions catalysed by this enzyme showed broad optimum between pH 6.0 and 8.8. The activity of purified enzyme was not affected by Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Co2+, and Cd2+ at 1 mM concentration. The molecular weight measured by gel filtration was approximately 84,000 and the isoelectric point was 4.4. The enzymatic properties were not changed by neuraminidase treatment with regard to heat stability, pH optimum, sensitivity to metal ions and inhibitors, and Km values for p-nitrophenylesters of different acyl C-chain length.

Kasahara-variant alkaline phosphatase in a renal cell carcinoma

Electrophoretically Kasahara-variant alkaline phosphatase we found in a renal cell carcinoma tissue. This enzyme electrophoresed more quickly than liver alkaline phosphatase but more slowly than Kasahara isoenzyme. Neuraminidase treatment of the enzyme caused retardation of electrophoretic mobility which was the same as that of neuraminidase-treated Kasahara isoenzyme. The enzymic properties of this variant enzyme such as inhibition by L-phenylalanine, L-homoarginine, L-leucine, EDTA and urea are consistent with those of Kasahara isoenzyme. On Ouchterlony double diffusion, the precipitin lines of Kasahara and Kasahara-variant enzymes produced by antibody to Kasahara isoenzyme fused completely. These facts may mean that Kasahara-variant isoenzyme is different from the Kasahara one in terminal sialic acid content.

A novel gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in renal carcinoma in comparison with normal kidney enzyme

A novel gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was found in a renal carcinoma tissue. This enzyme electrophoresed more quickly than that of normal kidney, but more slowly than normal liver enzyme. Their Rf values are 0.46, 0.33, and 0.52 for the renal carcinoma, normal kidney and normal liver enzyme, respectively. After treatment of the renal carcinoma and normal kidney enzyme with neuraminidase, the renal carcinoma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase still electrophoresed slightly faster than that of normal kidney. The catalytic properties of the renal carcinoma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were almost the same as those of normal kidney except for molecular weight; the molecular weight for the renal carcinoma was estimated to be about 130 000, while that of normal kidney was about 90 000. These results may mean that the enzyme of the renal carcinoma is different from that of normal kidney in chemical constituents other than sialic acid. Of 10 patients with renal carcinoma examined electrophoretically, 5 posessed this novel enzyme in their renal carcinoma tissues.

Hepatocellular carcinoma and a variant alkaline phosphatase

Four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had a variant alkaline phosphatase that resembles the placental D-variant but is different from it in electrophoretic mobility, pH optimum, heat stability, and inhibition by phosphate. The appearance of this enzyme has been specific to hepatocellular carcinoma. Its prevalence was about 30%, while that of another marker protein, alpha-fetoprotein was 77%. The occurrence of this enzyme in serum of patients with hepatoma was, accordingly, independent of the serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration, and also independent of the appearance of the Regan or the Nagao isoenzymes and of the serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Patients with the enzyme had a massive type of hepatocellular carcinoma with grade III differentiation by Edmondson's classification. The detection of this enzyme in serum may be of help in confirming the diagnosis of hepatoma.