Influence of plasma proteins on activity of proinflammatory enzyme phospholipase A2

The influence of plasma proteins on quantitation of the proinflammatory enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from rheumatoid synovial fluid was studied using two different assays. Human and bovine serum albumins increased the rate of PLA2 hydrolysis of membrane-associated phospholipid substrates. In contrast, albumin profoundly inhibited the PLA2 hydrolysis of synthetic phospholipids in micellar dispersion. Other plasma proteins (alpha, beta and gamma-globulins) had minimal effect on PLA2 activity in either assay system. Since the presence of albumin may compromise estimation of PLA2 and of phospholipase-inhibitory proteins, the appropriate selection of assay conditions is obligatory for the accurate quantitation of their respective activities.