[Changes in Y-protein and ligandin in human liver tumor tissues]

Since the relationship between tissue ligandin and liver tumors has not been studied yet, we investigated the changes of Y protein and ligandin in human hepatoma and cholangioma by gel filtration, BSP-affinity chromatography, and SDS-gel electrophoresis. The concentration of Y protein was markedly increased in both hepatoma and cholangioma, 2.8 and 4.8 times that of control, respectively. The content of ligandin was also increased in both conditions. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the increased ligandin confirmed the increment of 2.3 K dalton protein, which coincided with the MW of the ligandin subunit. Although the mechanism of the ligandin increase in hepatoma tissue is not clear, one possible reason might be due to the degree of differentiation of the tumor cells. In our case, the pathological examination revealed that the tumor cell was classified as Edmondoson Type II.