Energetic metabolism of leukocytes. XI. Presence and function of creatine kinase in leukocytes.

Creatine kinase activity could be demonstrated in the cytosol of macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes from guinea pig peritoneal exudates, in circulating mononuclear cells of blood donors and of a preleukemic patient, but not in human circulating polymorphonuclear cells. According to immunoinhibition assays most of the creatine kinase activity of human monocytes (preleukemic patient) and lymphocytes can be assigned to the MM and BB isoenzymes, respectively. Both isoenzymes have been observed in human lymphocytes by electrophoresis; with the help of the same procedure the predominance of creatine kinase BB has been demonstrated in the cells of guinea pig peritoneal exudates.