Novel glycolipid complexes and their uses

Abstract

A complex of a water-soluble polymer containing hydrophobic regions and native sulfatide is disclosed. The complex may be used in assaying methods.

1 . A complex between a water-soluble polymer containing hydrophobic regions and a glycolipid.  
     
     
         2 . The complex of  claim 1 , characterized in that the polymer and the glycolipid is non-covalently bound to each other.  
     
     
         3 . The complex of anyone of claims  1 - 2 , characterized in that the water-soluble polymer is a delipidized protein that in native form binds lipids.  
     
     
         4 . The complex of anyone of claims  1 - 3 , characterized in that the glycolipid is a glycosphingolipid.  
     
     
         5 . The complex of anyone of claims  1 - 4 , characterized in that the glycolipid contains one mono- or disaccharide unit that preferably is sulphated at the 3-position in its terminal monosaccharide unit.  
     
     
         6 . The complex of anyone of claims  1 - 5 , characterized in that the glycolipid is sulphatide.  
     
     
         7 . The complex of anyone of claims  1 - 6 , characterized in that the water-soluble polymer is albumin.  
     
     
         8 . The complex of anyone of claims  1 - 7 , characterized in that the complex is insolubilized to a solid phase by adsorption or covalent attachment.  
     
     
         9 . An immunoassay of an antibody directed towards a glycolipid or of the glycolipid, characterized in that the sample containing the antibody or the glycolipid is contacted with a complex containing the glycolipid and defined in anyone of claims  1 - 8 , optionally also with an added anti-glycolipid antibodies in a deficient amount in case the glycolipid is assayed.  
     
     
         10 . The immunoassay of  claim 9 , characterized that the antibody is anti-sulphatide antibody.  
     
     
         11 . The immunoassay method of anyone of claims  9 - 10 , characterized in that the immunoassay is heterogeneous.  
     
     
         12 . The immunoassay method of anyone of claims  9 - 11 , characterized in that the method is non-competitive.  
     
     
         13 . Method of diagnoses in the context of neuropathy and IDDM, characterized in that anti-sulphatide antibody is assayed as defined in anyone of  9 - 11 .  
     
     
         14 . Method of diagosing prediabetic forms of IDDM in an individual, characterized in that a sample from the patient is assayed for anti-sulphatide antibody and a found elevated level compared to the healthy population is taken as a marker for a prediabetic state of the patient.