Serum alkaline phosphatase types in North American indians and negroes.

Recent investigations have revealed a correlation between human serum alkaline phosphatase types, the ABO blood groups, and the secretion of ABH substance in the saliva (Arfors, Beckman, and Lundin, 1963a, b; Shreffler, 1964; Beckman, 1964; Evans, 1965; Bamford, Harris, Luffman, Robson, and Cleghorn, 1965). Arfors et al. (1963a) reported that phosphatase type 2 (Pp 2) was uncommon in people having blood group A. Beckman (1964) also demonstrated that the frequency of Pp 2 was correlated with the ABO blood groups, being present in 30% of group 0 and B subjects, 15% of AB, and only 2% of the A group. In contrast with results given by Shreffler (1964), Beckman did not find a significant difference in the frequency ofPp 2 between A1 and A2 subjects. The association of phosphatase types with the secretor phenomenon was originally suggested by Arfors et al. (1963b) because of the highly significant correlation of phosphatase type with the Lewis red blood cell groups. It has been shown that in adults, Le (a-b+) subjects are salivary secretors on ABH substance; those who are Le (a+ b -) are non-secretors; and those who are Le (a-b-) are usually, but not invariably, secretors (Race and Sanger, 1962). Arfors et al. (1963b) examined group 0 donors and found that the sera from all 16 Le (a + b-) subjects, presumably non-secretors, formed a single major zone in starch gel zymograms stained for phosphatases (phosphatase type 1, Pp 1). Of 41 sera from Le (a b +) subjects, presumably secretors, 30 produced in addition a less rapidly migrating zone (phosphatase type 2, Pp 2). Shreffler (1964) found that amongst the secretors ofABH substances, Pp 2 was present in decreasing amount according to the ABO blood group: 0 or B> A2