Caveolin-3 and sarcoglycans in the vacuolar myopathies and centronuclear myopathy

Expression of dystrophin, beta-spectrin, merosin, and alpha- and beta-sarco glycans on the vacuolar membranes in some types of vacuolar myopathies has previously been reported. We studied expression of caveolin-3; alpha-, beta -, gamma- and delta-sarcoglycans; dystrophin; and merosin on the vacuolar m embranes in various vacuolar myopathies. Caveolin-3 and dystrophin were exp ressed on the vacuolar membranes in lysosomal glycogen storage disease with normal acid maltase, hypokalemic myopathy, and centronuclear myopathy. Sar coglycans and merosin were expressed only on the vacuolar membrane in lysos omal glycogen storage disease with normal acid maltase. Immunostain of cave olin-3 and sarcoglycans is therefore useful for differential diagnosis of v acuolar myopathies. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.