Characterization of serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes by affinity electrophoresis in agarose gel containing lectin combined with agar gel electrophoresis.

The combined use of affinity electrophoresis in agarose gel containing lectin and of agar gel electrophoresis for the quantitation of liver, bone, biliary and intestinal alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes is described. Sera from patients with various diseases and from normal subjects (blood donors) have been analyzed. Data from normal subjects show that the bone isoenzyme is the predominant fraction (about 62%) in adults. The relative proportions of the alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes are similar in both sexes in adulthood (21-50 years). The higher alkaline phosphatase activity found in men than in women (ages 21-50 years) is due to higher values for both liver and bone isoenzymes. The difference between men and women tends to decrease after the age of 50 mainly due to an increase of the bone isoenzyme in women.