Intestinal-type glycosphingolipids in urine from patients with enterocutaneous urinary diversions

Ureteroenterocutaneous stoma is a surgical procedure for urinary diversion by which an intestinal segment is used as a conduit or reservoir for the urine. The intestinal mucosa continues to produce a mucous gel containing desquamated epithelial cells. This mucous gel is easily obtainable from the urine. Glycosphingolipids were isolated from such gels and analyzed with immunological methods using a thin-layer chromatography overlay assay and mass spectrometry. The glycosphingolipids obtained mainly belong to the lacto-type I series comprising ABH, Lea, and Leb determinants. These observations support the intestinal origin of the glycosphingolipids. A regional distribution of the ABH and Lewis antigens, which is in accordance with previous immunohistochemical findings, was observed.