Aldolase Isozymes in Brain Tumors Studied by Disc Electrophoresis

Abstract

Aldolase isozyme patterns of brain tumors and the normal brain were investigated using 7.5% polyacryl-amidgel disc-electrophoresis.
Normal human brain tissue, obtained from surgery and autopsies contained aldolase A4, C4 and also three A-C hybrid sets, A₃C, A₂C₂, AC₃. Most gliomas such as astrocytomas, a ependymoma, glioblastomas and medulloblastomas showed the same pattern as that of the normal brain, but one glioblastoma showed only aldolase A₄ and A₃C hybrid. In meningiomas which seem to originate from mesodermal tissue, aldolase A₄ and A₃C hybrid were detected. In some meningiomas, however, the A₃C hybrid alone was found. Sarcomas and a chemodectoma showed the A₃C hybrid only. In acoustic neurinomas, pituitary adenomas and metastatic tumors from lung cancer, aldolase A₄ and A₃C hybrid were detected but aldolase C and other hybrids were always absent.
From these results, it was considered that the aldolase isozyme pattern was useful for identifying the genetic origin of brain tumors, especially when histological diagnosis was inconclusive.