Repetitive tissue biopsy by venipuncture: enzyme activities in isolated leukocyte populations

Despite the rapidly expanding clinical use of leukocyte biochemistry, there is a limited amount of data available on normal human leukocytes. Some of the problems associated with the clinical use of leukocytes are discussed briefly. Enzyme activities of alkaline and acid phosphatase, lysozyme, and beta-galactosidase are presented. Results are reproducible between normals when expressed per mg of leukocyte deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Much higher lymphocyte activties of lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase are noted than previously reported with cytochemical or intact cell systems. It has been demonstrated that leukocytes cannot be considered chemically homogenous but should be separated and considered as individual cell types.