Effects of chronic ethanol intake on isozyme patterns of liver alcohol dehydrogenase

ADH isozyme patterns in cirrhotic humans who had chronic alcoholic histories were studied to elucidate the relationship between their changes and the degree of liver damage. Liver ADH activity was significantly reduced in alcoholic cirrhosis. Electrophoretic separation of ADH isozyme revealed three fractions : two faster moving anodic isozymes (A1, A2) and one cathodic from the intermediate mobility (C). No significant differences was observed in the ADH isozyme patterns among control cases. The percentages of A1, A2 and C forms were 15 - 20%, 60 - 70% and 5 - 10% of the total enzyme activities, respectively. The isozyme patterns of ADH in the liver of cirrhotic patients were somewhat different from those in control cases : the average activity of A1 and C isozyme decreased markedly while the A2 form could not be observed.