Enzyme immunoassay of human cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase

Aspartate aminotransferase isoenzymes

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, EC 2.6.1.1) exists in human tissues as two distinct isoenzymes, one located in the cytoplasm (c-AST), and the other in mitochondria (m-AST). Striated muscle, myocardium, and liver tissues are the main sources of AST. A growing body of information suggests that determination of AST isoenzymes in human serum is useful in evaluating damage to some of these organs. In hepatic disease, the test is used to assess liver necrosis and for determining prognosis. It may also assist in identifying patients with active alcoholic liver disease. In patients with acute myocardial infarction, measurement of AST isoenzymes provides diagnostic information that differs from that obtained by determination of total creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase enzymes, and their isoenzymes.

Determination of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase in serum

Two specific and sensitive immunoassay methods for the determination of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (m-AST) are described. One is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay which measures immunologically active m-AST using polystyrene balls coated with anti-m-AST antibody and peroxidase-labelled anti-m-AST antibody as the second antibody. The detection limit of this assay was 10 micrograms/l. The other is a paper disk method which measures catalytically active enzyme bound to anti m-AST antibody-conjugate paper disks. The calibration curve was linear up to 250 U/l. These assay methods were used to monitor the level of m-AST in serum. From measurements obtained by both methods, the correlation between the concentration of m-AST protein and its activity was poor (liver diseases, r = 0.539; myocardial infarction, r = 0.774) confirming that an inactive form of m-AST exists in serum, and that the specific activity of serum m-AST differs in individual diseases.