Subunit-specific radioimmunoassay for aldolase A, B, and C subunits: clinical significance

Radioimmunoassays specific for fructose-1, 6-diphosphate aldolase isozymes were developed for the quantification of human aldolase A, B and C. The method is a double-antibody radioimmunoassay using radioiodinated purified aldolase A, B and C as ligand, chicken antibodies to aldolase A, B and C, and rabbit antibodies to chicken IgG. The Iodogen method was used for the iodination of aldolase A, B and C in this study. Aldolase A was predominantly high in concentration in muscle, aldolase B was high in normal adult liver, and aldolase C was high in adult brain. Aldolase A was elevated in hepatoma tissue and hepatoma cell lines, where aldolase B was distinctly low. Normal serum levels for the three isozymes were determined. The aldolase A levels in serum obtained from 41 normal subjects were 170 +/- 39 ng/ml. Serum aldolase A levels were increased in many patients with cancer and muscle diseases, but were not increased in patients with hepatitis or other benign diseases. Serum aldolase B levels obtained from 11 normal subjects were 28.5 +/- 9.2 ng/ml. Serum aldolase B levels were increased in patients with hepatitis and correlated well with serum GPT levels. Serum aldolase C levels obtained from 12 normal subjects were 2.4 +/- 0.7 ng/ml. The determination of aldolase A, B and C by radioimmunoassay may be a valuable tool in biochemical and clinical studies of aldolase isozymes.