Placental Isozyme Research Articles

Solid phase immunoassay for high molecular weight alkaline phosphatase in human sera using a specific monoclonal antibody

A murine hybridoma producing monoclonal antibody (MoAb HMAP-1) to human high molecular weight alkaline phosphatase (HMAP) was derived using enzyme partially purified from human serum as the immunogen. The antibody did not cross-react with the liver, bone, intestinal or placental isozymes of alkaline phosphatase (AP), and did not react with AP in bile. A monoclonal antibody immunocatalytic assay for HMAP in serum was developed using MoAb HMAP-1 bound to nitrocellulose membrane discs. The method was rapid and reproducible, giving good correlation with results from cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis and having the added advantages of increased sensitivity and specificity. A large number of sera can now be assayed to evaluate the significance of serum HMAP in relation to other AP activities and to the differential diagnosis of liver disease.

Alkaline phosphatase isozymes in non-malignant intestinal and hepatic diseases.

Human alkaline phosphatase isozymes--the tissue-unspecific, the intestinal, and the placental alkaline phosphatases--were determined in sera by use of isozyme-specific monoclonal antibodies. The clinical utility of serum determinations of alkaline phosphatase isozymes was evaluated in patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver. No elevations of the different serum isozymes were observed in the intestinal diseases investigated (active Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). For non-malignant diseases of the liver the alkaline phosphatase isozymes presented characteristic patterns. Patients with cirrhosis due to hepatocellular diseases had markedly elevated levels of intestinal alkaline phosphatase and moderate serum activities of tissue-unspecific and placental alkaline phosphatases. In patients with liver disease with cholestatic features tissue-unspecific and placental isozyme levels were high, but the intestinal isozyme remained normal, whereas primary biliary cirrhosis was associated with high levels of the tissue-unspecific enzyme and moderate elevations of intestinal and placental alkaline phosphatases. It can be concluded that, in addition to tissue-unspecific alkaline phosphatase, intestinal and placental isozymes contribute to the total alkaline phosphatase activity for patients with liver disease. The results suggest that specific methods for the identification of alkaline phosphatase isozymes could be of value.

Clinical and biological significance of an isozyme tumor marker—PLAP

In 1930 the determination of serum alkaline phosphatase in patients with bone or liver disease ushered in the era of clinical enzymology. The association of elevated (bone) alkaline phosphatase in serum of patients with osteogenic sarcoma was the first evidence that tumor cells themselves produced the enzyme. It became clear, however, in the 1960s that the serum alkaline phosphatase was not a single enzyme but consisted of a family of isozymes originating from liver, bone, intestine, and placenta. This was a consequence of the introduction of a combination of electrophoretic separations, heat inactivation, and organ-specific amino acid inhibitors. This combination of measurements made possible the demonstration of a serum alkaline phosphatase of lung cancer origin, as confirmed by the histochemical visualization in lung cancer of the Regan Isozyme (placental alkaline phosphatase-PLAP). At present, the measurement of PLAP has its greatest utility as a tumor marker in seminoma and ovarian cancer. A PLAP-like isozyme in normal testis and ovary is expressed in these and other neoplasias and appears to be related to rare alleles of placental alkaline phosphatase. Current studies have utilized a panel of monoclonal antibodies to detect useful epitopes that suggest that PLAP and PLAP-like isozymes are coded by different genes. The PLAP gene has now been cloned and sequenced by Millan and others. This fundamental new information is providing a base line that will make it possible to explain the overlapping specificities of intestinal and placental isozymes, the degree of uniqueness of the PLAP-like isozyme, the precise mechanism of uncompetitive inhibition by L-phenylalanine and the evolutionary history of the alkaline phosphatases. Tumor PLAP is an example of oncotrophoblast gene expression.

Cloning and characterization of a cDNA coding for mouse placental alkaline phosphatase.

Mouse alkaline phosphatase [ALP; orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase (alkaline optimum), EC 3.1.3.1] was partially purified from placenta. Data obtained by immunoblotting analysis suggested that the primary structure of this enzyme has a much greater homology to that of human and bovine liver ALPs than to the human placental isozyme. Therefore, a full-length cDNA encoding human liver-type ALP was used as a probe to isolate the mouse placental ALP cDNA. The cloned mouse cDNA is 2459 base pairs long and is composed of an open reading frame encoding a 524-amino acid polypeptide that contains a putative signal peptide of 17 amino acids. Homology at the amino acid level of the mouse placental ALP is 90% to the human liver isozyme but only 55% to the human placental counterpart. RNA blot hybridization results indicate that the mouse placental ALP is encoded by a gene identical to the gene expressed in mouse liver, kidney, and teratocarcinoma stem cells. This gene is therefore evolutionarily highly conserved in mouse and human.

Cloning and sequencing of human intestinal alkaline phosphatase cDNA.

Partial protein sequence data obtained on intestinal alkaline phosphatase indicated a high degree of homology with the reported sequence of the placental isoenzyme. Accordingly, placental alkaline phosphatase cDNA was cloned and used as a probe to clone intestinal alkaline phosphatase cDNA. The latter is somewhat larger (3.1 kilobases) than the cDNA for the placental isozyme (2.8 kilobases). Although the 3' untranslated regions are quite different, there is almost 90% homology in the translated regions of the two isozymes. There are, however, significant differences at their amino and carboxyl termini and a substitution of an alanine in intestinal alkaline phosphatase for a glycine in the active site of the placental isozyme.

Enzymes of glutathione metabolism as biochemical markers during hepatocarcinogenesis.

Enzymes of glutathione metabolism, particularly gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), play a role in multistage hepatocarcinogenesis. The enhanced expression of these enzymes in preneoplastic altered hepatic foci, nodules, and hepatocellular carcinomas has been demonstrated after treatment with a variety of initiating and promoting agents. Glutathione is necessary for the detoxification of xenobiotics and carcinogens and for cell replication. Induction of GGT in altered hepatocytes may permit these cells to utilize extracellular glutathione to preserve their internal glutathione levels. GST induction allows glutathione utilization for the protection of the altered hepatocyte in an environment of exposure to xenobiotics, such as promoting agents. Thus, the combined effects of GGT and GST, in a toxic environment, may provide for the enhanced proliferation observed in preneoplastic hepatocytes. New clinical and research opportunities may involve the use of GGT and the placental isozyme of GST (PGST) as markers of preneoplasia and neoplasia in humans. Many factors, such as hormones, diet, and exposure to initiating and promoting agents, influence GGT and GST expression. The recent cloning of cDNAs to GGT and PGST offers opportunities for the study of factors involved in the genetic expression of these two enzymes. Coupled with the use of hepatocyte culture and transplantation, the factors involved at the molecular level in the creation of hepatocellular neoplasia may be discovered.

Quantitative stereological evaluation of four histochemical markers of altered foci in multistage hepatocarcinogenesis in the rat.

Female F344/N rats dosed with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) 24 h after partial hepatectomy were treated with the promoting agents, phenobarbital (PB) or 3,4,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), or the peroxisome proliferating agent, WY 14,643, for 6 months. Another group was subjected to the Solt-Farber protocol. Altered hepatic foci (AHF) were analyzed by quantitative stereology from frozen serial sections stained for gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), canalicular adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and the placental isozyme of glutathione S-transferase (PGST). PGST scored more foci in all groups than GGT and ATPase. PGST marked greater focal volume than GGT or ATPase, and PGST marked focal volume equal to or greater than G6Pase in rats treated with PB, TCDD or the Solt-Farber protocol. However, after treatment with WY 14,643, GGT and PGST marked much less focal volume than ATPase or G6Pase, and PGST scored fewer foci than G6Pase. Numerical estimations of foci scored by those markers on the basis of area of the entire tissue section (per cm2) were relatively different from those values determined by quantitative stereology. While these results confirm earlier studies, they demonstrate the importance of quantitative stereologic analysis of AHF during multistage hepatocarcinogenesis.

Human liver alkaline phosphatase, purification and partial sequencing: Homology with the placental isozyme

Human liver alkaline phosphatase (AP) has been purified to homogeneity. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 150,000 in its native state and consists of two identical subunits of M r 75,000. After treatment with endoglycosidase F the molecular weight is reduced to 50,000 indicating a high degree of glycosylation. The amino-terminal sequence up to 22 residues was found to be LeuValProGluLysGluLysAspProLys Tyr(Ala)ArgAspGlnAlaGln?ThrLeuLysTyr. The amino-terminal portions of human and bovine liver AP are identical. The amino termini of the human liver and human placental AP isozymes have appreciable homology. Conformationally the amino termini are very similar.

Two Monoclonal Antibodies Recognizing Determinants on Human Embryonal Carcinoma Cells React Specifically with the Liver Isozyme of Human Alkaline Phosphatase

From a series of hybridomas that produced monoclonal antibodies reactive with the surface of human embryonal carcinoma cells, two that specifically recognized determinants of the liver/bone/kidney isozyme of alkaline phosphatase were isolated. They did not cross-react with the intestinal or placental isozymes. Phylogenetic studies revealed that both antibodies cross-reacted strongly with liver alkaline phosphatase from higher primates, but exhibited marked differences in their respective cross-reactions with liver alkaline phosphatase from other mammalian species.

Cellular localization of alkaline phosphatase isozymes in three human cancer cell lines: Methodological considerations based on electron cytochemical studies.

The cellular localization of cancer-associated alkaline phosphatase is studied in three cultured human cancer cell lines, which are established as monophenotypic to early placental in KMK-2, Kasahara in HeLa S3-5, and Regan isozymes in HeLa S3-10 respectively.First, it is confirmed that the optimal conditions of the cell fixation, the substrate concentration and the cultured method, as factors which influenced on the electron cytochemical demonstration of alkaline phosphatase should be thoroughly studied cell-line to cell-line in order to accurately interpret the localization of each isozyme concerned.Second, it is shown that all of the enzyme activities of the early placental, Kasahara and Regan isozymes are located on the whole plasma membrane, particularly the outer lamella and the spaces between the outer and inner lamellae. However, it is less certain that the reaction products in some intracytoplasmic organelles of KMK-2 and HeLa S3-5 are the specific sites of the early placental isozyme or the Kasahara isozyme. Effects of some activators and inhibitors to each isozyme on the enzyme activity and the cellular localization are also described.

Characterization of two different alkaline phosphatases in mouse teratoma: Partial purification, electrophoretic, and histochemical studies

Alkaline phosphatase (E.C.3.1.3.1.) has been used as a marker for embryonal carcinoma cells which constitute the multipotential stem cells of the mouse teratoma. Studies by other investigators based on kinetics of thermal inactivation and L-phenylalanine inhibition have shown that the alkaline phosphatase of the teratoma differs from the mouse intestinal and liver isozymes, but resembles the isozymes of kidney and placenta. Since functional characterization of nonpurified enzymes is not the most accurate means for distinguishing different molecular forms of an enzyme, we have partially purified the enzymes from the ascitic (embryoid body) and solid tumor forms of the OTT-6050 teratoma line, and utilized the technique of electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels to compare the teratoma enzyme with isozymes from kidney and placenta. Covalent 32PO 4-labeling of the alkaline phosphatases and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecylsulfate was also used to compare the subunit molecular weights of the enzymes. The results indicate that the mouse teratoma enzyme is distinct from the kidney and placental isozymes. Since histochemical studies have localized the enzyme to the stem cell population of the teratoma, the results imply that stem cell alkaline phosphatase is a distinct isozyme. The embryoid bodies contain a second alkaline phosphatase which may correspond to the placental isozyme. This enzyme may be attributed to the outer cell layer of embryoid bodies of the ascitic tumor, since this cell type histochemically demonstrates alkaline phosphatase activity.

Characterization of KB cell alkaline phosphatase. Evidence of similarity to placental alkaline phosphatase.

The alkaline phosphatase from KB cells was purified, characterized, and compared to placental alkaline phosphatase, which it resembles immunologically. Two nonidentical nonomeric subunits of the KB phosphatase were found. The two subunits, which have apparent molecular weights of 64,000 and 72,000, can be separated on polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate. The Mr = 64,000 KB subunit appears to be identical in protein structure to the monomer of placental alkaline phosphatase. The Mr = 72,000 KB subunit, while differing in the NH2-terminal amino acid, appears also to be very similar to the placental alkaline phosphatase monomer. Both KB phosphatase subunits bind (32P)phosphate, and bind to Sepharose-bound anti-placental alkaline phosphatase. Native KB phosphatase is identical to the placental isozyme in isoelectric point, pH optimum, and inhibition by amino acids, and has a very similar peptide map. The data presented support the hypothesis that the Mr = 64,000 KB phosphatase subunit may the the same gene product as the monomer of placental alkaline phosphatase. This paper strengthens the evidence that the gene for this fetal protein, normally repressed in all cells but placenta, is derepressed in the KB cell line. In addition, this paper presents the first structural evidence that there are two different subunit proteins comprising the placental-like alkaline phosphatase from a human tumor cell line.

Lung Carcinoma Associated With Production of Three Placental Proteins

Production of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), human chorionic somatomammotropin (HCS),¹and the placental isozyme of alkaline phosphatase (PAP) by normal and neoplastic trophoblast has been well documented.^2-5(Previously, HCS has been designated as human placental lactogen [HPL], chorionic growth hormone-prolactin [CGP], purified placental protein [human] [PPP(H)], and placental protein. Because of the site of formation and physiologic effects of this protein hormone, the name HCS has been recommended1 and will be used throughout this report.) The ectopic production of gonadotropins by nontrophoblastic tumors has also been established.^6-9With a single exception,¹⁰the gonadotropin has invariably behaved like luteinizing hormone (LH) or HCG,¹¹but until recently, methods have not been readily available to permit unequivocal differentiation of the placental from the pituitary hormone.^12,13Ectopic production of the placental proteins PAP and HCS has also been described^14,15in a variety of nontrophoblastic neoplasms, contrasting