Sulphatide in islets of Langerhans and in organs affected in diabetic late complications: a study in human and animal tissue

Sulphatide has been found in rat islets of Langerhans and anti-sulphatide antibodies have been demonstrated in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Using a specific monoclonal antibody, Sulph I, directed against sulphatide, we investigated the in situ distribution of this glycolipid immunohistochemically; furthermore, the sulphatide concentration was determined in several organs and cells by thin-layer chromatography. The islets of Langerhans in all species examined, mouse, rat, pig, and monkey were intensively stained but exocrine tissue remained unlabelled. The sulphatide concentration in human islets was 150 +/- 46 pmol/100 islets. The only glycolipid-antigen detected was sulphatide. Regarding other tissues, sulphatide was found to be located in distal tubules in the kidney, peripheral nerves, distinct scattered spot-like structures in the choreoid layer of the eye, the ovum, and peripheral granulocytes. Sulph I injection in mice showed homing to kidney tubules, Lung, heart, liver, adrenal, spleen, lymph node and thymus were not stained by Sulph I. Thus, the distribution of sulphatide shows an association with organs known to be affected in diabetes, either initially or in late complications.