Objective To detect the expression of SMP-30 protein in normal liver, virus hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, HCC and their corresponding paracancerous tissues, so as to study the relationship between SMP-30 and liver diseases. Methods The MBP-SMP-30 fusion protein was expressed and purified from expression plasmid that contained 165 amino acids of SMP-30 Cend. The fusion protein was used to immunize rabbit to prepare the antiMBP-SMP-30 polyclonal antibody. Thirty normal liver, 10 virus hepatitis and 49 hepatic cirrhosis samples, 48 cases of HCC and their corresponding paracancerous tissues were used for detection. Immunohistochemical staining for SMP-30 was performed with SABC method on paraffin sections. Results SMP-30 was found in the cytoplasm and nucleus of hepatocyte. The protein expression level in HCC paracancerous tissues was higher than that in others (P<0.05). The expression of SMP-30 protein in HCC was no correlation with tumor size and pathological grade. Conclusion SMP-30 in hepatocytes can be detected with polyclonal antibody of MBP-SMP-30 fusion protein. SMP-30 is associated with progression of liver diseases. The higher expression of SMP-30 protein may be an early and protective event in HCC.