Enzyme studies during lymphocyte stimulation with phytohemagglutinin in Down's syndrome

Lymphocytes obtained from the peripheral blood of patients with trisomic Down's syndrome and controls were stimulated with PHA. Acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and glucose-6-phophate dehydrogenase were found to be elevated when compared with controls. Despite the increased activity in Down's syndrome, the ratio of Down's to controls remained constant throughout the experiment. The lymphocytes of both groups responded in a similar fashion when the incorporation of tritiated thymidine was measured.