Blood, 1961, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 328-333.
© 1961 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Fumarase Activity of Human Leukocytes and Erythrocytes
KOUICHI R. TANAKA 1 and
WILLIAM N. VALENTINE 1
1 Department of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles School of
Medicine, and the Veterans Administration Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
1. The results of over 400 assays of fumarase activity in separated leukocytes
and erythrocytes in a variety of hematologic and nonhematologic diseases are
presented.
2. The highest mean leukocyte fumarase values occurred in acute monocytic
leukemia and acute granulocytic leukemia. Blast cells have greater fumarase
activity than more mature forms of the same cell type.
3. Fumarase appears to be distributed ubiquitously among the various leukocytes. Cell populations which contained predominantly neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, blasts, eosinophils, and basophils, all exhibited appreciable
enzyme activity.
4. Assays of erythrocyte fumarase activity did not reveal a pattern with the
exception of elevated values in macrocytic anemias and in some, but not all,
cases of hemolytic anemia.
Submitted on August 22, 1960
Accepted on December 9, 1960
