Alkaline phosphatase activity induction in human spleen sinuses in storage diseases

Human splenic sinuses were observed for the induction of alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity in mucopolysaccharidoses of type I and II, in GM1gangliosidosis, and in Niemann-Pick’s disease, type A. A substantially lower degree of activity was found in Sanfillipo’s disease, type A, and in hemosiderin pigmentation of the sinuses. In a number of hematological affections and in control spleens AP activity could not be proved by histochemical means. From the formal pathogenetic view, enzyme activity induction is probably related to lysosomal deposition of the material stored.