AlP

ALP is an acronym with several meanings. In health and biochemistry, ALP most commonly refers to alkaline phosphatase, a group of zinc-containing enzymes that remove phosphate groups from many molecules (dephosphorylation). In humans, alkaline phosphatase enzymes are expressed in tissues including the liver, bile ducts, bone, intestine, and kidney. The enzyme participates in mineralization and digestion and has several isoforms: tissue-nonspecific ALP, intestinal ALP, and placental ALP. Serum ALP activity is routinely measured in blood tests and can indicate liver or bone health. Elevated ALP levels may reflect cholestasis or biliary obstruction, liver disease, increased bone turnover, or certain cancers; low levels can occur with malnutrition, Wilson disease, or hypophosphatasia. Reference ranges vary by age and lab, and results are interpreted with other markers such as GGT and AST/ALT.

In politics, ALP most commonly refers to the Australian Labor Party, a major center-left political party in Australia. Founded in the 1890s out of labor and socialist movements, it supports social democracy and reform, with representation at federal and state levels. The party has produced several prime ministers and has alternated governing with the Liberal Party. It emphasizes workers’ rights, public services, and social welfare within a broad platform that contains various internal factions.