The development of an ELISA for group IVA phospholipase A2 in human red blood cells.

An immunoassay for IVA phospholipase A2 in human red blood cells is described. The assay is a non-competitive sandwich assay in which increasing amounts of the measured protein produce increased luminescence. The antibodies used in the assay are directed against two unique epitopes of the molecule, which sequentially trap and detect the protein.

The investigation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 using ELISA.

Two studies of the behaviour of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) in the red blood cell (RBC), as measured by ELISA, are described. In the first study we show a significant increase in cPLA(2) in patients with schizophrenia compared to controls and suggest that this measure, if corroborated, could be used as a diagnostic marker. In a second study we found that washing the RBC introduced an unknown confounding variable which led us to reject this study.

Cytosolic phospholipase A2 type IVA is present in human red cells.

Phospholipase A(2) type IVA (IVAPLA(2)) is a cytosolic enzyme that on activation selectively releases arachidonic acid (AA) from cell membrane phospholipids. Both AA and lysophospholipid, products of the enzymic reaction, can function as signal transducers in cellular interactions. The enzyme is present in most cells, including polymorphs, eosinophils, and platelets.