Hexokinase Isozyme in Human Liver: Altered Isozyme Distribution among Liver Diseases

Abstract

A micromethod was established to quantitate the activity of each of four hexokinase isozylnes in human liver specimens obtained by needle biopsy from patients undergoing peritoneoscopy, using Cellogel membrane electrophoresis. The present study describes the hexokinase isozyme patterns in 25 patients with various liver diseases (acute hepatitis 3, chronic hepatitis 12, liver cirrhosis 7, primary hepatoma 2 and metastatic hepatoma 1). Hepatic glucokinase (hexokinase IV) activity was markedly reduced in patients with postnecrotic liver cirrhosis, hepatoma, acute stage of viral hepatitis and excerbated chronic hepatitis. Patterns of hexokinase I and III differed among these cases: as compared with controls, the activity of hexokinase III was increased (2-5 folds) during acute stage of hepatitis, while that of hexokinase I gradually rose (4-8 folds) with advancement from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis of the liver and with progression to primary hepatoma (15 folds), suggesting that the rises in III and I activities are possible markers of acute liver damage and chronic progression of liver diseases, respectively.
In conclusion, analysis of hexokinase isozymes is of great value in elucidating the pathophysiology of liver diseases.