A rapid and sensitive enzyme immunoassay for Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies.

An enzyme immunoassay for the quantification of human Cu/Zn SOD in serum, urine and erythrocytes was developed applying monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. The one-step assay is completed within 30 min and enables the detection of 0.3 microgram Cu/Zn SOD per litre. A Cu/Zn SOD concentration of 46 +/- 21.5 micrograms/l and of 1 +/- 0.6 micrograms/mmol creatinine was determined in the serum and the urine, respectively, of healthy individuals. A content of 15 +/- 1.7 ng Cu/Zn SOD was found in 10(6) erythrocytes. Patients with Down's syndrome exhibited a 3.8-fold, a 2-fold and a 1.6-fold higher concentration of Cu/Zn SOD in their serum, urine and erythrocytes.

Epidemiological study on the hepatotoxicity of occupational toluene exposure.

In a cross-sectional study of 181 male workers of a rotogravure printing plant, most of whom were exposed to toluene levels well above the GDR threshold limit values, 55 subjects revealed pathological liver screening values (activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma glutamyltransferase; liver size). The differential diagnostic examination showed in 51 out of these 55 subjects an association with competing factors such as alcohol abuse (78%) and overweight (40%), to a slight extent disorders of fat and carbohydrate metabolism and of the gallbladder. Drug intake did not play any role. The variance and regression analyses of the biochemical data have shown that alcohol significantly and considerably increases the activities of all three enzymes tested. Bodyweight had a similar, but less pronounced, significant effect. On the other hand, in subjects with a higher alcohol intake the activities of liver enzymes in highly toluene exposed subgroups were significantly and clearly lower than among slightly toluene exposed workers.

[An early childhood erythrocyte phospholipid distribution as further indication of persistence of neonatal erythrocyte characteristics in Diamond-Blackfan anemia]. / Eine frühkindliche Erythrozytenphospholipidverteilung als weiterer Hinweis für das Fortbestehen neonataler Erythrozytenmerkmale bei Diamond-Blackfan-Anämie.

Comparisons of erythrocyte and plasma phospholipids made among adults, newborns, and a female patient with Diamond-Blackfan anaemia (DBA) revealed some indications for the continual existence of a neonatal phospholipid distribution in DBA. The relative percentage of phospholipids in erythrocytes and plasma were similar in newborns and in the female patient. The other peculiarities characteristic of newborns, such as deviations in the absolute phospholipid content, typical fatty acid patterns of phospholipids, could not be identified in DBA.

Metabolism of the hexose monophosphate shunt in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and closely interrelated reactions.

The metabolic changes of red blood cells from 25 patients with chronic hemolytic anemia caused by G6PD deficiency were investigated. The average G6PD activity exhibited 5 per cent of the normal control. The glucose oxidation was in most cases reduced even by 50 per cent. Three groups could be distinguished according to their degree of methylene blue stimulation of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. These results are in agreement with changes of the kinetic constants for NADP, NADPH and G6P, respectively. The filtrability of red blood cells decreased in all cases of G6PD deficiency but no correlation was found with the survival time. First results of a preventive medication with D-L-alpha-tocopherol let assume a reduction of chronic hemolysis.

Phospholipid content and phospholipid fatty acid composition of red blood cells in enzyme defect hemolytic anemias.

The content and distribution of phospholipids (PL) in red blood cells (RBC) of PK and of G6PD deficiency were found to differ in both disorders. RBC immaturity could not be excluded as reason for PL alterations in PK deficiency. The relative diminution of phosphatidylethanolamine in G6PD deficiency may be connected with the enzyme depletion in this disorder and its influence on the PL of RBC membranes. Moist or all fatty acid deviations seem to be conditioned by RBC immaturity. Nearly all PL fatty acid aberrations in G6PD deficiency RBC were observed also in PK deficiency RBC. Additional deviations of PL fatty acids in PK deficiency RBC may be caused by the stronger immaturity of the cells in this disorder.

Erythrocyte and plasma lipids in terminal renal insufficiency.

Lipids in erythrocytes and plasma of children and adults with terminal renal insufficiency were determined and compared with those of normal controls. The erythrocyte phospholipids in uremic patients were altered in phosphatidylethanolamine (absolutely and relatively elevated) and in lecithin (relatively diminished). Sphingomyelin, phosphatidylserine, total erythrocyte phospholipid content and cholesterol were within the normal range. The detailed analysis of the distribution of plasma phospholipids showed an increase in all phospholipids except phosphatidylserine. The unesterified plasma cholesterol was also found to be elevated. The fatty acid distribution in the individual erythrocyte phospholipids showed the following variations in comparison with controls: one main fatty acid was significantly decreased in sphingomyelin and in lecithin and slightly decreased in phosphatidylethanolamine. It could be shown that the lipid alterations in uremic erythrocytes were quite different from those in plasma. There were not typical signs for an increased lipid peroxidation in the erythrocytes of patients with renal insufficiency.

[Changes in the shape of erythrocytes during use of extracorporeal circulation]. / Veränderungen der Erythrozyten-Form durch Anwendung des extrakorporalen Kreislaufs.

The behavior of red cell shape of circulating blood was investigated following operations using the heart-lung machine by different quantitative methods. It was discovered, that the schistocytes (light microscopy) and echinocytes (scanning electron microscopy) significantly increases. The changes in erythrocyte shape are comprehended as summary effect of erythrocyte damage by the extracorporeal system and discussed in relation to the loss of phospholipid components of the erythrocyte membrane.

[Leukocyte lipids in mature cell leukemia]. / Leukozytenlipide bei reifzelligen Leukämien

The total lipid content and the lipid pattern of normal and leukemic leukocytes showed no significant difference except the fact, that lymphocytes of chronic lymphatic leukemia have a lower content of triglycerides and sphingomyeline. Lecithin of leukemic lymphocytes contained more palmitinic acid and oleic acid and a lower level of stearic acid than the same fraction in normal lymphocytes. The lipid pattern of normal and leukemic granulocytes was identical.