Binding of cytoplasmic islet cell antibodies is blocked by human pancreatic glycolipid extracts

Abstract

With biochemical and enzymatic treatment of frozen sections of pancreas, we have previously shown that cytoplasmic islet cell antibodies (ICAs) react with carbohydrate determinants of islet cell glycoconjugates. As a first step toward purifying these glycoconjugates, human pancreas tissue was extracted in a mixture of chloroform and methanol, and the glycolipids were obtained by effecting a Folch partition. The protein pellet, lipid fraction, and glycolipid fraction so obtained were assessed for their ability to block the binding of ICAs to frozen sections of human pancreas, the effect being quantitated with a photometer. Only the glycolipid extract could block ICA binding, and blocking was ..