Pepsinogen polymorphism in human gastric mucosa in relation to gastric diseases.

The human stomach mucosa contains two main group of gastric proteinases. Both pepsinogen A (PGA) and pepsinogen C (PGC) consist of molecular variants, isozymogens, which can be separated electrophoretically, PGA was found to consist of five isozymogens (Pg1-Pg2), and PGC of two isozymogens (Pg6 and Pg7). Five hundred zymograms were examined and electrophoretic mobility of pepsinogens from patients with gastric cancer was found to be higher than from other gastric diseases. The ratio of isozymogens Pg3 to Pg5 differs in to great extent in various disease. Patients with ulcer disease have this value higher than 1, but patients with gastric cancer lower than 1. Patients with gastric ulcer have lower occurrence of Pg1 and SMP in antrum. In patients with gastric carcinoma lower concentration of PGA and also ratio PGA to PGC are observed.