Abstract
Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) activity, measured with 4-methyl-umbelliferyl oleate as substrate, is present in high concentration in lymphocytes and monocytes, but not in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Lymphocytes were isolated from whole blood samples by modification of the Ficoll-Isopaque method of B8yum (Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. Suppl. 97, 1968). More than 300 random samples were obtained; LAL and acid β-galactosidase (GAL) were assayed and their specific activities, as well as the LAL/GAL ratio, were determined. There was an approximately continuous unimodal distribution of LAL, GAL and LAL/GAL among males and females, blacks and whites. There were no significant sex differences for any of the measurements, nor was there a significant difference in GAL activity between blacks and whites. However, blacks appeared to have higher lymphocyte LAL activity than whites. This difference was most readily seen in the first decade of life. In this age group, the LAL/GAL ratio among blacks was nearly twice that for whites. Studies of LAL activity among families are underway. (Supported in part by NIH grant HL 18723-01; National Foundation grant 6-80 and AHA grant 76-768).
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Coates, P., Cortner, J. LYSOSOMAL ACID LIPASE ACTIVITY IN HUMAN LYMPHOCYTES: POPULATION STUDIES. Pediatr Res 11, 454 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00506
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00506