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International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2017Gaucher disease (GD, ORPHA355) is a rare, autosomal recessive genetic disorder. It is caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, glucocerebrosidase, which leads to... (Review)
Review
Gaucher disease (GD, ORPHA355) is a rare, autosomal recessive genetic disorder. It is caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, glucocerebrosidase, which leads to an accumulation of its substrate, glucosylceramide, in macrophages. In the general population, its incidence is approximately 1/40,000 to 1/60,000 births, rising to 1/800 in Ashkenazi Jews. The main cause of the cytopenia, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and bone lesions associated with the disease is considered to be the infiltration of the bone marrow, spleen, and liver by Gaucher cells. Type-1 Gaucher disease, which affects the majority of patients (90% in Europe and USA, but less in other regions), is characterized by effects on the viscera, whereas types 2 and 3 are also associated with neurological impairment, either severe in type 2 or variable in type 3. A diagnosis of GD can be confirmed by demonstrating the deficiency of acid glucocerebrosidase activity in leukocytes. Mutations in the gene should be identified as they may be of prognostic value in some cases. Patients with type-1 GD-but also carriers of mutation-have been found to be predisposed to developing Parkinson's disease, and the risk of neoplasia associated with the disease is still subject to discussion. Disease-specific treatment consists of intravenous enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using one of the currently available molecules (imiglucerase, velaglucerase, or taliglucerase). Orally administered inhibitors of glucosylceramide biosynthesis can also be used (miglustat or eliglustat).
Topics: Gaucher Disease; Humans; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Models, Biological; Monitoring, Physiologic; Prognosis
PubMed: 28218669
DOI: 10.3390/ijms18020441 -
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases Jun 2010Niemann-Pick C disease (NP-C) is a neurovisceral atypical lysosomal lipid storage disorder with an estimated minimal incidence of 1/120,000 live births. The broad... (Review)
Review
Niemann-Pick C disease (NP-C) is a neurovisceral atypical lysosomal lipid storage disorder with an estimated minimal incidence of 1/120,000 live births. The broad clinical spectrum ranges from a neonatal rapidly fatal disorder to an adult-onset chronic neurodegenerative disease. The neurological involvement defines the disease severity in most patients but is typically preceded by systemic signs (cholestatic jaundice in the neonatal period or isolated spleno- or hepatosplenomegaly in infancy or childhood). The first neurological symptoms vary with age of onset: delay in developmental motor milestones (early infantile period), gait problems, falls, clumsiness, cataplexy, school problems (late infantile and juvenile period), and ataxia not unfrequently following initial psychiatric disturbances (adult form). The most characteristic sign is vertical supranuclear gaze palsy. The neurological disorder consists mainly of cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and progressive dementia. Cataplexy, seizures and dystonia are other common features. NP-C is transmitted in an autosomal recessive manner and is caused by mutations of either the NPC1 (95% of families) or the NPC2 genes. The exact functions of the NPC1 and NPC2 proteins are still unclear. NP-C is currently described as a cellular cholesterol trafficking defect but in the brain, the prominently stored lipids are gangliosides. Clinical examination should include comprehensive neurological and ophthalmological evaluations. The primary laboratory diagnosis requires living skin fibroblasts to demonstrate accumulation of unesterified cholesterol in perinuclear vesicles (lysosomes) after staining with filipin. Pronounced abnormalities are observed in about 80% of the cases, mild to moderate alterations in the remainder ("variant" biochemical phenotype). Genotyping of patients is useful to confirm the diagnosis in the latter patients and essential for future prenatal diagnosis. The differential diagnosis may include other lipidoses; idiopathic neonatal hepatitis and other causes of cholestatic icterus should be considered in neonates, and conditions with cerebellar ataxia, dystonia, cataplexy and supranuclear gaze palsy in older children and adults. Symptomatic management of patients is crucial. A first product, miglustat, has been granted marketing authorization in Europe and several other countries for specific treatment of the neurological manifestations. The prognosis largely correlates with the age at onset of the neurological manifestations.
Topics: 1-Deoxynojirimycin; Age Factors; Age of Onset; Biological Transport; Cholesterol; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Testing; Humans; Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C
PubMed: 20525256
DOI: 10.1186/1750-1172-5-16 -
Nature Reviews. Neurology Mar 2019Batten disease (also known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses) constitutes a family of devastating lysosomal storage disorders that collectively represent the most common... (Review)
Review
Batten disease (also known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses) constitutes a family of devastating lysosomal storage disorders that collectively represent the most common inherited paediatric neurodegenerative disorders worldwide. Batten disease can result from mutations in 1 of 13 genes. These mutations lead to a group of diseases with loosely overlapping symptoms and pathology. Phenotypically, patients with Batten disease have visual impairment and blindness, cognitive and motor decline, seizures and premature death. Pathologically, Batten disease is characterized by lysosomal accumulation of autofluorescent storage material, glial reactivity and neuronal loss. Substantial progress has been made towards the development of effective therapies and treatments for the multiple forms of Batten disease. In 2017, cerliponase alfa (Brineura), a tripeptidyl peptidase enzyme replacement therapy, became the first globally approved treatment for CLN2 Batten disease. Here, we provide an overview of the promising therapeutic avenues for Batten disease, highlighting current FDA-approved clinical trials and prospective future treatments.
Topics: Humans; Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses; Tripeptidyl-Peptidase 1
PubMed: 30783219
DOI: 10.1038/s41582-019-0138-8 -
Molecular Genetics and Metabolism May 2022Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive inherited lysosomal storage disease that often presents in early childhood and is associated with damage to multiple organ... (Review)
Review
Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive inherited lysosomal storage disease that often presents in early childhood and is associated with damage to multiple organ systems. Many challenges associated with GD diagnosis and management arise from the considerable heterogeneity of disease presentations and natural history. Phenotypic classification has traditionally been based on the absence (in type 1 GD) or presence (in types 2 and 3 GD) of neurological involvement of varying severity. However, patient management and prediction of prognosis may be best served by a dynamic, evolving definition of individual phenotype rather than by a rigid system of classification. Patients may experience considerable delays in diagnosis, which can potentially be reduced by effective screening programs; however, program implementation can involve ethical and practical challenges. Variation in the clinical course of GD and an uncertain prognosis also complicate decisions concerning treatment initiation, with differing stakeholder perspectives around efficacy and acceptable cost/benefit ratio. We review the challenges faced by physicians in the diagnosis and management of GD in pediatric patients. We also consider future directions and goals, including acceleration of accurate diagnosis, improvements in the understanding of disease heterogeneity (natural history, response to treatment, and prognosis), the need for new treatments to address unmet needs for all forms of GD, and refinement of the tools for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy, such as specific biomarkers.
Topics: Biomarkers; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Progression; Gaucher Disease; Humans; Lysosomes; Phenotype
PubMed: 35367141
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2022.03.001 -
Trends in Molecular Medicine Jun 2023Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) is the sole enzyme known to degrade neutral lipids in the lysosome. Mutations in the LAL-encoding LIPA gene lead to rare lysosomal lipid... (Review)
Review
Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) is the sole enzyme known to degrade neutral lipids in the lysosome. Mutations in the LAL-encoding LIPA gene lead to rare lysosomal lipid storage disorders with complete or partial absence of LAL activity. This review discusses the consequences of defective LAL-mediated lipid hydrolysis on cellular lipid homeostasis, epidemiology, and clinical presentation. Early detection of LAL deficiency (LAL-D) is essential for disease management and survival. LAL-D must be considered in patients with dyslipidemia and elevated aminotransferase concentrations of unknown etiology. Enzyme replacement therapy, sometimes in combination with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), is currently the only therapy for LAL-D. New technologies based on mRNA and viral vector gene transfer are recent efforts to provide other effective therapeutic strategies.
Topics: Humans; Wolman Disease; Sterol Esterase; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Lipids
PubMed: 37028992
DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.03.001 -
FEBS Letters Oct 2006Drug-induced phospholipidosis is characterized by intracellular accumulation of phospholipids with lamellar bodies, most likely from an impaired phospholipid metabolism... (Review)
Review
Drug-induced phospholipidosis is characterized by intracellular accumulation of phospholipids with lamellar bodies, most likely from an impaired phospholipid metabolism of the lysosome. Organs affected by phospholipidosis exhibit inflammatory reactions and histopathological changes. Despite significant advances in the understanding of drug-altered lipid metabolism, the relationship between impaired phospholipid metabolism and drug-induced toxicity remains enigmatic. Here we review molecular features of inheritable lysosomal storage disorders as a molecular mimicry of drug-induced phospholipidosis for an improved understanding of adverse drug reaction.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Lipidoses; Lysosomes; Phospholipids
PubMed: 16979167
DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.08.061 -
Molecular Genetics and Metabolism Feb 2021Gaucher disease (GD), resulting from biallelic mutations in the gene GBA1, is a monogenic recessively inherited Mendelian disorder with a wide range of phenotypic... (Review)
Review
Gaucher disease (GD), resulting from biallelic mutations in the gene GBA1, is a monogenic recessively inherited Mendelian disorder with a wide range of phenotypic presentations. The more severe forms of the disease, acute neuronopathic GD (GD2) and chronic neuronopathic GD (GD3), also have a continuum of disease severity with an overlap in manifestations and limited genotype-phenotype correlation. In very young patients, assigning a definitive diagnosis can sometimes be challenging. Several recent studies highlight specific features of neuronopathic GD that may provide diagnostic clues. Distinguishing between the different GD types has important therapeutic implications. Currently there are limited treatment options specifically for neuronopathic GD due to the difficulty in delivering therapies across the blood-brain barrier. In this work, we present both classic and newly appreciated aspects of the Gaucher phenotype that can aid in discriminating between acute and chronic neuronopathic GD, and highlight the continuing therapeutic challenges.
Topics: Blood-Brain Barrier; Gaucher Disease; Genetic Association Studies; Glucosylceramidase; Humans; Phenotype; Severity of Illness Index
PubMed: 33483255
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2021.01.002 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2023Sphingolipidoses are defined as a group of rare hereditary diseases resulting from mutations in the genes encoding lysosomal enzymes. This group of lysosomal storage... (Review)
Review
Sphingolipidoses are defined as a group of rare hereditary diseases resulting from mutations in the genes encoding lysosomal enzymes. This group of lysosomal storage diseases includes more than 10 genetic disorders, including GM1-gangliosidosis, Tay-Sachs disease, Sandhoff disease, the AB variant of GM2-gangliosidosis, Fabry disease, Gaucher disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Krabbe disease, Niemann-Pick disease, Farber disease, etc. Enzyme deficiency results in accumulation of sphingolipids in various cell types, and the nervous system is also usually affected. There are currently no known effective methods for the treatment of sphingolipidoses; however, gene therapy seems to be a promising therapeutic variant for this group of diseases. In this review, we discuss gene therapy approaches for sphingolipidoses that are currently being investigated in clinical trials, among which adeno-associated viral vector-based approaches and transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells genetically modified with lentiviral vectors seem to be the most effective.
Topics: Humans; Sphingolipids; Sphingolipidoses; Gaucher Disease; Tay-Sachs Disease; Genetic Therapy
PubMed: 36835039
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043627 -
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory... Aug 2017Fabry disease is a rare X-linked recessive lysosomal storage disease. Multiple mutations of the GLA gene lead to a deficient or absent activity of the lysosomal enzyme... (Review)
Review
Fabry disease is a rare X-linked recessive lysosomal storage disease. Multiple mutations of the GLA gene lead to a deficient or absent activity of the lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase A, resulting in progressive glycotriaosylceramide accumulation in many organs. Low α-galactosidase A activity and mutations in the GLA gene confirm the diagnosis. Clinical signs are multisystemic, heterogeneous, and progressive. Renal, cardiac, and neurovascular involvements are the main life-threatening complications, highlighting the importance of an early initiation of enzyme replacement therapy improving long-term outcome. Fabry nephropathy lesions are characterized by a cell vacuolization of glomeruli, tubules, interstitium, and arteries and by ultrastructural myelin bodies. The main histologic differential diagnoses are toxicity of lysosomal inhibitors and other renal lipidoses. Renal biopsies are not necessary for diagnosis but have an important role in the evaluation of disease evolution and treatment efficiency, which is a major challenge for improving outcome and quality of life.
Topics: Fabry Disease; Humans; Kidney Diseases
PubMed: 28745569
DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2016-0418-RS -
American Journal of Hematology Jul 2015
Topics: Gaucher Disease; Humans; Registries
PubMed: 26096745
DOI: 10.1002/ajh.24058