Immunocytochemical localization of lysosomal acid phosphatase in normal and "I-cell" fibroblasts

This study represents the first example of immunological localization of lysosomal acid phosphatase. The intracellular localization of lysosomal acid phosphatase was investigated with immunocytochemical methods at the light and electron microscopical level in cultured fibroblasts obtained from normal subjects and from a patient with I-cell disease. Double-labeling studies using fluorescence microscopy showed that acid phosphatase is present in the same organelles as other hydrolases. At the electron microscopic level in control fibroblasts acid phosphatase was found in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, at the plasma membrane, in vesicles just below the plasma membrane and in multivesicular bodies. This localization was comparable with that of other lysosomal enzymes tested (acid alpha-glucosidase, N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase, beta-galactosidase). Acid phosphatase labeling was mainly found in association with the lysosomal membrane and with membranous material present within the lysosome. In I-cell fibroblasts the label was present in the same subcellular organelles but always associated with membranous structures. We suggest that the association of acid phosphatase with membranes might explain the normal enzyme activity found in I-cell fibroblasts.