Increase of sialyltransferase activity in the serum and liver of inflamed rats.

Induction of inflammation by turpentine injection caused 1.5-2-fold increase of both sialyl- and galactosyltransferase activity in liver homogenates. The effect was apparent after 12 h of turpentine treatment. Serum sialyltransferase activity started to increase in the inflamed rats after 18 h, reaching a maximum of 4-fold at 48 h. In contrast, galactosyltransferase activity in serum showed no significant increase. The coordinated and temporal increase of sialyltransferase activity in liver and serum suggest involvement of a specific mechanism for the preferential release of this enzyme into serum.