title: Heat resistance, immunological and quantitative changes of neutrophil alkaline phosphatase in trisomy 21 pregnancies.
abstract: Neutrophil alkaline phosphatase (NAP) was analysed in 25 pregnant women with trisomy 21 foetuses whose chromosomal aberration was recognized by cytogenetic study after amniocentesis. Enzyme investigation was performed at 20-22 weeks of gestation using cytochemical and biochemical techniques. Twenty-nine women at the same stage of normal pregnancies were selected as controls. In parallel, each mother was karyotyped. Ten subjects from each series underwent biochemical and immunological investigation: measurement of enzyme levels, thermostability study and immunological tests with alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme antibodies. NAP from pregnant women with trisomy 21 foetuses was characterized by: (1) a lower rate of enzyme activity, (2) a large amount of heat-stable enzyme (T = 56 degrees C for biochemical assays, T = 85 degrees C for cytochemical tests), and (3) a marked loss of liver antigenicity. These findings suggest the presence in trisomy 21 pregnancies of a non-specific alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme which appears as an "enzyme marker" in maternal circulating neutrophils.
authors.affiliation: Service Universitaire d'Hématologie, INSERM, CNRS, CHU de Rangueil, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grozdea
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vergnes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brisson-Lougarre
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bourrouillou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colombies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D004314:Down Syndrome; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase