ABSTRACT
Gomori's metal precipitate technique was used to demonstrate the phosphatase activity of the human cervical lymph node in health and disease, using four different phosphate esters (sodium beta-glycerophosphate and adenosine triphosphate at pH 9, riboflavin 5'-phosphate at pH 9.2 and 5'-monophosphoric acid at pH 8.3). In fetal lymph nodes, using 5'-monophosphoric acid, an outstanding positive activity was noticed in the lymphatic follicles. With the other three substrates there was either no nodular reaction or just a narrow rim of positive activity around the follicles, the internodular tissue being negative with all four substrates used. With chronic non-specific lymphadenitis the enzyme hydrolysing the three substrates (beta-glycerophosphate, riboflavin 5'-phosphate and adenosine triphosphate) began to make their appearance. It seems that with lymphadenitis, a qualitative change of the phosphatase activity takes place. A special characteristic pattern of phosphatase activity has been described in both 'early' and 'caseating' tuberculous lymphadenitis. In malignant lymphomas it was noticed that no activity was encountered with any of the four substrates in reticulum cell sarcoma. However, in lymphosarcoma a positive activity was obtained when either beta-glycerophosphate or adenosine triphosphate substrates was used, to the extent that one can depend upon this characteristic phosphatase activity in differentiating between reticulum cell sarcoma and lymphosarcoma. However, no enzymatic activity was obtained when the other two phosphate esters were used.
Subject(s)
Lymph Nodes/enzymology , Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/metabolism , Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Chronic Disease , Female , Glycerophosphates/metabolism , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Lymphadenitis/enzymology , Lymphoma/enzymology , Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/enzymology , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/enzymology , Male , Middle Aged , Phosphates/metabolism , Phosphoric Acids/metabolism , Riboflavin/metabolism , Tuberculosis, Lymph Node/enzymologyABSTRACT
(1) Fetal thymuses, organs from patients who died from diseases that are not clinically known to be associated with concomitant lymphoid tissue involvement, as well as thymuses from patients dying from diseases which effect the lymphatic complex of the body, one way or another, have been investigated for their alkaline phosphatase activity, using Gomori technique and applying four different phosphate esters as substrates. (2) Three substrates (beta-glycerophophate, riboflavin 5-phosphate and adenosine triphosphate) showed essentially the same pattern of activity in which the cortex and Hassall's corpuscles were reactive, while the medulla was negative. A reversal of this pattern was demonstrated with 5-monophosphoric acid. (3) Before the age of 32-36 weeks of intra-uterine life there is no alkaline phosphatase activity in the thymus; therafter, the enzyme begins to make its first appearance. (4) There is a definite increase in the intensity of the reaction with advance of intra-uterine life. This increase in phosphatase content is continued postnatally, to reach its maximum at about the age of 10 years: after that, the enzyme activity gradually subsides. (5) There is a tremendous augmentation of phosphatase activity in the case of disease which are known to affect the lymphoid complex. (6) The phosphatase activity of the thymus has been discussed in relation to the prevailing concepts about the function of the thymus, with special emphasis on a possible association with 'lymphocyte-stimulating factor' production and/or secretion.
Subject(s)
Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism , Thymus Gland/enzymology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Congenital Abnormalities/enzymology , Diphtheria/enzymology , Female , Heart Diseases/enzymology , Humans , Infant , Leukemia/enzymology , Lymphatic Diseases/enzymology , Male , Metabolism, Inborn Errors/enzymology , Thymus Gland/cytology , Thymus Gland/embryology , Whooping Cough/enzymologySubject(s)
Cholinesterases/metabolism , Lymphoid Tissue/enzymology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Alkaline phosphatase activity was examined in the human tonsils in fetal life and after repeated attacks of acute tonsillitis and in quinsy. Gomori's metal precipitate technique was used to demonstrate the phosphatase activity using four different substrates: sodium beta-glycerophosphate and adenosine triphosphate at pH 9, riboflavin 5-phosphate at pH 9.2 and 5-monophosphoric acid at pH 8.3. (2) The phosphatase activity differs somewhat according to the phosphate ester used as a substrate illustrating an example of 'substrate specificity'. (3) Alkaline phosphatase activity was increased in the case of both acute and chronic inflammation. This increase has been discussed in relation to such phenomena as transformation of lymphocytes into macrophages and antibody formation.
Subject(s)
Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism , Palatine Tonsil/enzymology , Peritonsillar Abscess/enzymology , Tonsillitis/enzymology , Acute Disease , Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Child , Chronic Disease , Female , Glycerophosphates/metabolism , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Male , Middle Aged , Palatine Tonsil/embryology , Phosphoric Acids/metabolism , Riboflavin/metabolismABSTRACT
(1) Cholinesterase activity was investigated in some human lymphatic organs (palatine tonsil, 'normal' spleen, 'bilharzial' spleen, thymus, lymph node and appendix) using GOMORI'S modification of KOELLE and FRIEDENWALD'S thiocholine iodide method, hydrolyzing acetylthiocholine iodide and butyrylthiocholine iodide. (a) Acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterases seemed to be different enzymes; but when they have the same pattern of activity, the latter generally offers a weaker reaction. (b) All the lymphatic follicles of the tonsil, those found in the cortex of the cervical lymph nodes as well as those present in the appendix, were stainable with both acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase. (c) Acetylcholinesterase activity was not demonstrated in the Malpighian bodies of the 'normal' spleen, but the reaction was strongly present in the blood vessels (including the central arterioles) as well as in the capsule and the different components of the trabecular system. (d) In 'bilharzial' splenomegaly a relatively strong activity started to appear in the Malpighian corpuscles, manifested as a brownish precipitate in their centres. Also some patchy positive areas began to make their appearance in the tissue of the red pulp and had a particular arrangement around the Malpighian corpuscules, in such a way as to 'wall them off' from the tissue of the red pulp. (e) In the thymus no acetylcholinesterase activity was encountered, except in Hassal's corpuscles and in the trabeculae between the thymic lobules. (2) The data obtained in this work were discussed in relation to previous works in other laboratories and it seems that a species difference exists. (3) Cholinesterases may be present in the lymphatic tissue in order to get rid of some potentially toxic esters resulting from the necrobiotic phenomena accompanying the high mitotic activity found especially in the germinal centres of the lymphoid follicles. (4) There are many unanswered questions about the coexistence of the phosphatases and cholinesterases in the same places; their concomitant association in the lymphatic tissue may represent a special case within the framework of a more general mechanism.
