A radiochemical test for phospholipase A2 catalytic activity

Synovial-type (group II) phospholipase A2 human seminal plasma

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) was analysed in seminal plasma of fertile, subfertile, and vasectomized men as well as in prostatic secretion and tissue. Immunological cross-reactivity was observed between synovial-type PLA2 antiserum and the enzyme present in seminal plasma. There was a highly significant correlation between the concentration of the synovial-type PLA2, as measured by a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay and the catalytic activity of the PLA2. The results show that the PLA2 content in human seminal plasma is very high (approximately 1000 times of that present in blood plasma) and that the enzyme belongs to the synovial-type group II phospholipase A2. The results also indicate that the enzyme is secreted by the prostate.

Renal tubular cell injury and serum phospholipase A2 activity in acute pancreatitis

Early diagnosis of threatening renal complication is essential for the adequate treatment of acute pancreatitis. Deposition of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in rat renal proximal tubular cells has been observed in experimentally induced acute pancreatitis. The value of measuring the catalytic activity of PLA2 in serum as an early warning of developing renal tubular cell injury was therefore investigated in a prospective study of 31 consecutive patients suffering from acute pancreatitis. A positive correlation was found (r = 0.66, P < 0.001) between the highest serum PLA2 activity, as measured early in the course of acute pancreatitis, and the highest N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG):creatinine ratio in the urine. The correlation between the highest serum concentration of immunoreactive pancreatic PLA2 and the highest urinary NAG:creatinine ratio was weaker (r = 0.36, P < 0.05). These results indicate that the measurement of the catalytic activity of PLA2 in serum early in acute pancreatitis may provide a simple test for the detection of threatening renal complication.