ELECTROPHORETIC STUDIES IN LIVER DISEASE. II. GAMMA1 GLOBULIN IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE 12

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Abstract
The sera of 241 persons (18 normal, 56 patients with various liver diseases and 167 patients with miscellaneous diseases) showed marked elevations of a gamma component situated in the electrophoretic pattern between the commonly described gamma component and beta globulin in cases of cirrhosis. There were lesser elevations in other liver diseases and the avg. values in conditions other than liver disease were within normal range. The gamma-l globulin component which was frequently found markedly elevated in cirrhosis, is present in normal human blood to the extent of approx. 3% of the total serum proteins. This component is not present ordinarily in animals, but is produced after hyperimmunization with different bacterial antigens. Perhaps the gamma-1 elevations in chronic liver disease are due to auto-immunization by circulating protein breakdown products not metabolized by the liver and acting as autogenous antigens.