Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase (TRAP)

Antigen Background

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) is a basic, iron-binding protein with high activity towards phosphoproteins, ATP and 4-nitrophenyl phosphate. This isoenzyme has been reported through different applications to be expressed in human alveolar macrophages, osteoclasts, spleen and liver. Expression of TRAP is reported to be increased in the spleen and monocytes of individuals with Gaucher's disease, Hodgkin's disease and the sera of individuals undergoing active bone turnover. Elevated levels are also reported to be associated with various B cell and T cell leukemias and lymphomas, decidual cells, syncytiotrophoblasts and some macrophages distributed throughout maternal and embryonic tissues.

Disclaimer

Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase (TRAP) is recommended for the detection of specific antigens of interest in normal and neoplastic tissues, as an adjunct to conventional histopathology using non-immunologic histochemical stains.