Human body fluid ribonucleases: detection, interrelationships and significance.

Study of the RNases of human body fluids has been facilitated by use of activity staining following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Commercial SDS preparations contain minor lipophilic contaminants (less than 0.1%) which interfere with enzyme renaturation and prevent activity staining unless gels are washed after electrophoresis in 25% isopropanol. Partial characterization of the RNases of serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is described, including evidence that the RNases comprising bands A-C of urine and 1-3 of CSF are glycoproteins. Evidence is presented that the major RNase activities of serum (RNases 1-5) and urine (band A) do not originate in pancreas, and that leukocytes are the source of band D RNase of urine, as well as of minor RNase activities of serum and CSF. Results are summarized suggesting that elevated plasma RNase levels may be of dubious utility in the diagnosis of most malignant diseases. Some elevated levels reported in the literature may reflect the advanced age of cancer patients, negative nitrogen balance, and other secondary effects of diseases, particularly kidney dysfunction.