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Eldredge JA, Hardikar W. Current status and future directions of liver transplantation for metabolic liver disease in children. Pediatr Transplant 2024; 28:e14625. [PMID: 37859572 DOI: 10.1111/petr.14625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in the care of children with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) is well established and represent the second most common indication for pediatric liver transplantation in most centers worldwide, behind biliary atresia. OLT offers cure of disease when a metabolic defect is confined to the liver, but may still be transformative on a patient's quality of life reducing the chance of metabolic crises causing neurological damage in children be with extrahepatic involvement and no "functional cure." Outcomes post-OLT for inborn errors of metabolism are generally excellent. However, this benefit must be balanced with consideration of a composite risk of morbidity, and commitment to a lifetime of post-transplant chronic disease management. An increasing number of transplant referrals for children with IEM has contributed to strain on graft access in many parts of the world. Pragmatic evaluation of IEM referrals is essential, particularly pertinent in cases where progression of extra-hepatic disease is anticipated, with long-term outcome expected to be poor. Decision to proceed with liver transplantation is highly individualized based on the child's dynamic risk-benefit profile, their family unit, and their treating multidisciplinary team. Also to be considered is the chance of future treatments, such as gene therapies, emerging in the medium term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Eldredge
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Clinical Nutrition, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Winita Hardikar
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Clinical Nutrition, Royal Children's Hospital University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Daly O, Mahiny AJ, Majeski S, McClintock K, Reichert J, Boros G, Szabó GT, Reinholz J, Schreiner P, Reid S, Lam K, Lepper M, Adler M, Meffen T, Heyes J, Karikó K, Lutwyche P, Vlatkovic I. ASL mRNA-LNP Therapeutic for the Treatment of Argininosuccinic Aciduria Enables Survival Benefit in a Mouse Model. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1735. [PMID: 37371829 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) is a metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in argininosuccinate lyase (ASL), which cleaves argininosuccinic acid to arginine and fumarate in the urea cycle. ASL deficiency (ASLD) leads to hepatocyte dysfunction, hyperammonemia, encephalopathy, and respiratory alkalosis. Here we describe a novel therapeutic approach for treating ASA, based on nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA) formulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNP). To optimize ASL-encoding mRNA, we modified its cap, 5' and 3' untranslated regions, coding sequence, and the poly(A) tail. We tested multiple optimizations of the formulated mRNA in human cells and wild-type C57BL/6 mice. The ASL protein showed robust expression in vitro and in vivo and a favorable safety profile, with low cytokine and chemokine secretion even upon administration of increasing doses of ASL mRNA-LNP. In the ASLNeo/Neo mouse model of ASLD, intravenous administration of the lead therapeutic candidate LNP-ASL CDS2 drastically improved the survival of the mice. When administered twice a week lower doses partially protected and 3 mg/kg LNP-ASL CDS2 fully protected the mice. These results demonstrate the considerable potential of LNP-formulated, modified ASL-encoding mRNA as an effective alternative to AAV-based approaches for the treatment of ASA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen Daly
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | | | - Sara Majeski
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | | | | | - Gábor Boros
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | - Petra Schreiner
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - Steve Reid
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - Kieu Lam
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - Marlen Lepper
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Melanie Adler
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Tracy Meffen
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - James Heyes
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | | | - Pete Lutwyche
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
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3
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Nagamani SCS, Ali S, Izem R, Schady D, Masand P, Shneider BL, Leung DH, Burrage LC. Biomarkers for liver disease in urea cycle disorders. Mol Genet Metab 2021; 133:148-156. [PMID: 33846069 PMCID: PMC8195846 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urea cycle disorders (UCDs) are among the most common inborn errors of liver metabolism. As therapies for hyperammonemia associated with urea cycle dysfunction have improved, chronic complications, such as liver disease, have become increasingly apparent in individuals with UCDs. Liver disease in UCDs may be associated with hepatic inflammation, hepatic fibrosis, portal hypertension, liver cancer and even liver failure. However, except for monitoring serum aminotransferases, there are no clear guidelines for screening and/or monitoring individuals with UCDs for liver disease. Thus, we systematically evaluated the potential utility of several non-invasive biomarkers for liver fibrosis in UCDs. METHODS We evaluated grey-scale ultrasonography, liver stiffness obtained from shear wave elastography (SWE), and various serum biomarkers for hepatic fibrosis and necroinflammation, in a cohort of 28 children and adults with various UCDs. RESULTS Overall, we demonstrate a high burden of liver disease in our participants with 46% of participants having abnormal grey-scale ultrasound pattern of the liver parenchyma, and 52% of individuals having increased liver stiffness. The analysis of serum biomarkers revealed that 32% of participants had elevated FibroTest™ score, a marker for hepatic fibrosis, and 25% of participants had increased ActiTest™ score, a marker for necroinflammation. Interestingly, liver stiffness did not correlate with ultrasound appearance or FibroTest™. CONCLUSION Overall, our results demonstrate the high overall burden of liver disease in UCDs and highlights the need for further studies exploring new tools for identifying and monitoring individuals with UCDs who are at risk for this complication. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03721367).
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Argininosuccinate Lyase/blood
- Biomarkers/blood
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Elasticity Imaging Techniques
- Female
- Genetic Diseases, Inborn/blood
- Genetic Diseases, Inborn/diagnostic imaging
- Genetic Diseases, Inborn/genetics
- Genetic Diseases, Inborn/pathology
- Humans
- Hyperammonemia/blood
- Hyperammonemia/genetics
- Hyperammonemia/metabolism
- Hyperammonemia/pathology
- Liver/diagnostic imaging
- Liver/pathology
- Liver Cirrhosis/blood
- Liver Cirrhosis/diagnostic imaging
- Liver Cirrhosis/genetics
- Liver Cirrhosis/pathology
- Liver Diseases/blood
- Liver Diseases/genetics
- Liver Diseases/metabolism
- Liver Diseases/pathology
- Male
- Metabolism, Inborn Errors/genetics
- Middle Aged
- Ultrasonography
- Urea Cycle Disorders, Inborn/blood
- Urea Cycle Disorders, Inborn/genetics
- Urea Cycle Disorders, Inborn/metabolism
- Urea Cycle Disorders, Inborn/pathology
- Young Adult
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandesh C S Nagamani
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Saima Ali
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rima Izem
- Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Children's National Research Institute, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Deborah Schady
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Prakash Masand
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Edward B. Singleton Department of Radiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Benjamin L Shneider
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Daniel H Leung
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lindsay C Burrage
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
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4
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Burrage LC, Madan S, Li X, Ali S, Mohammad M, Stroup BM, Jiang MM, Cela R, Bertin T, Jin Z, Dai J, Guffey D, Finegold M, Nagamani S, Minard CG, Marini J, Masand P, Schady D, Shneider BL, Leung DH, Bali D, Lee B. Chronic liver disease and impaired hepatic glycogen metabolism in argininosuccinate lyase deficiency. JCI Insight 2020; 5:132342. [PMID: 31990680 PMCID: PMC7101134 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.132342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDLiver disease in urea cycle disorders (UCDs) ranges from hepatomegaly and chronic hepatocellular injury to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. However, the prevalence and underlying mechanisms are unclear.METHODSWe estimated the prevalence of chronic hepatocellular injury in UCDs using data from a multicenter, longitudinal, natural history study. We also used ultrasound with shear wave elastography and FibroTest to evaluate liver stiffness and markers of fibrosis in individuals with argininosuccinate lyase deficiency (ASLD), a disorder with high prevalence of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). To understand the human observations, we evaluated the hepatic phenotype of the AslNeo/Neo mouse model of ASLD.RESULTSWe demonstrate a high prevalence of elevated ALT in ASLD (37%). Hyperammonemia and use of nitrogen-scavenging agents, 2 markers of disease severity, were significantly (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively) associated with elevated ALT in ASLD. In addition, ultrasound with shear wave elastography and FibroTest revealed increased echogenicity and liver stiffness, even in individuals with ASLD and normal aminotransferases. The AslNeo/Neo mice mimic the human disorder with hepatomegaly, elevated aminotransferases, and excessive hepatic glycogen noted before death (3-5 weeks of age). This excessive hepatic glycogen is associated with impaired hepatic glycogenolysis and decreased glycogen phosphorylase and is rescued with helper-dependent adenovirus expressing Asl using a liver-specific (ApoE) promoter.CONCLUSIONOur results link urea cycle dysfunction and impaired hepatic glucose metabolism and identify a mouse model of liver disease in the setting of urea cycle dysfunction.TRIAL REGISTRATIONThis study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03721367, NCT00237315).FUNDINGFunding was provided by NIH, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, NUCDF, Genzyme/ACMG Foundation, and CPRIT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay C. Burrage
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Simran Madan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Interdepartmental Program in Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine and
| | - Xiaohui Li
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Saima Ali
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mahmoud Mohammad
- USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Bridget M. Stroup
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ming-Ming Jiang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Racel Cela
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Terry Bertin
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Zixue Jin
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jian Dai
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Danielle Guffey
- Dan L. Duncan Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and
| | - Milton Finegold
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Sandesh Nagamani
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Juan Marini
- USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Prakash Masand
- Edward B. Singleton Department of Pediatric Radiology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Deborah Schady
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin L. Shneider
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel H. Leung
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Deeksha Bali
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brendan Lee
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
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5
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Baruteau J, Diez-Fernandez C, Lerner S, Ranucci G, Gissen P, Dionisi-Vici C, Nagamani S, Erez A, Häberle J. Argininosuccinic aciduria: Recent pathophysiological insights and therapeutic prospects. J Inherit Metab Dis 2019; 42:1147-1161. [PMID: 30723942 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The first patients affected by argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) were reported 60 years ago. The clinical presentation was initially described as similar to other urea cycle defects, but increasing evidence has shown overtime an atypical systemic phenotype with a paradoxical observation, that is, a higher rate of neurological complications contrasting with a lower rate of hyperammonaemic episodes. The disappointing long-term clinical outcomes of many of the patients have challenged the current standard of care and therapeutic strategy, which aims to normalize plasma ammonia and arginine levels. Interrogations have raised about the benefit of newborn screening or liver transplantation on the neurological phenotype. Over the last decade, novel discoveries enabled by the generation of new transgenic argininosuccinate lyase (ASL)-deficient mouse models have been achieved, such as, a better understanding of ASL and its close interaction with nitric oxide metabolism, ASL physiological role outside the liver, and the pathophysiological role of oxidative/nitrosative stress or excessive arginine treatment. Here, we present a collaborative review, which highlights these recent discoveries and novel emerging concepts about ASL role in human physiology, ASA clinical phenotype and geographic prevalence, limits of current standard of care and newborn screening, pathophysiology of the disease, and emerging novel therapies. We propose recommendations for monitoring of ASA patients. Ongoing research aims to better understand the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of the systemic disease to design novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Baruteau
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
- Metabolic Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Carmen Diez-Fernandez
- Division of Metabolism and Children Research Centre (CRC), University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Shaul Lerner
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israël
| | - Giusy Ranucci
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paul Gissen
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
- Metabolic Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Carlo Dionisi-Vici
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sandesh Nagamani
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Ayelet Erez
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israël
| | - Johannes Häberle
- Division of Metabolism and Children Research Centre (CRC), University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP) and Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), Zurich, Switzerland
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6
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Häberle J, Burlina A, Chakrapani A, Dixon M, Karall D, Lindner M, Mandel H, Martinelli D, Pintos-Morell G, Santer R, Skouma A, Servais A, Tal G, Rubio V, Huemer M, Dionisi-Vici C. Suggested guidelines for the diagnosis and management of urea cycle disorders: First revision. J Inherit Metab Dis 2019; 42:1192-1230. [PMID: 30982989 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 240] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In 2012, we published guidelines summarizing and evaluating late 2011 evidence for diagnosis and therapy of urea cycle disorders (UCDs). With 1:35 000 estimated incidence, UCDs cause hyperammonemia of neonatal (~50%) or late onset that can lead to intellectual disability or death, even while effective therapies do exist. In the 7 years that have elapsed since the first guideline was published, abundant novel information has accumulated, experience on newborn screening for some UCDs has widened, a novel hyperammonemia-causing genetic disorder has been reported, glycerol phenylbutyrate has been introduced as a treatment, and novel promising therapeutic avenues (including gene therapy) have been opened. Several factors including the impact of the first edition of these guidelines (frequently read and quoted) may have increased awareness among health professionals and patient families. However, under-recognition and delayed diagnosis of UCDs still appear widespread. It was therefore necessary to revise the original guidelines to ensure an up-to-date frame of reference for professionals and patients as well as for awareness campaigns. This was accomplished by keeping the original spirit of providing a trans-European consensus based on robust evidence (scored with GRADE methodology), involving professionals on UCDs from nine countries in preparing this consensus. We believe this revised guideline, which has been reviewed by several societies that are involved in the management of UCDs, will have a positive impact on the outcomes of patients by establishing common standards, and spreading and harmonizing good practices. It may also promote the identification of knowledge voids to be filled by future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Häberle
- University Children's Hospital Zurich and Children's Research Centre, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alberto Burlina
- Division of Inborn Metabolic Disease, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Anupam Chakrapani
- Department of Metabolic Medicine, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Marjorie Dixon
- Dietetics, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Daniela Karall
- Clinic for Pediatrics, Division of Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Martin Lindner
- University Children's Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Hanna Mandel
- Institute of Human Genetics and metabolic disorders, Western Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel
| | - Diego Martinelli
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Guillem Pintos-Morell
- Centre for Rare Diseases, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERER_GCV08, Research Institute IGTP, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - René Santer
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anastasia Skouma
- Institute of Child Health, Agia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Aude Servais
- Service de Néphrologie et maladies métaboliques adulte Hôpital Necker 149, Paris, France
| | - Galit Tal
- The Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Vicente Rubio
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red para Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Martina Huemer
- University Children's Hospital Zurich and Children's Research Centre, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Paediatrics, Landeskrankenhaus Bregenz, Bregenz, Austria
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7
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Ashley SN, Nordin JML, Buza EL, Greig JA, Wilson JM. Adeno-associated viral gene therapy corrects a mouse model of argininosuccinic aciduria. Mol Genet Metab 2018; 125:241-250. [PMID: 30253962 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2018.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 08/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) is the second most common genetic disorder affecting the urea cycle. The disease is caused by deleterious mutations in the gene encoding argininosuccinate lyase (ASL); total loss of ASL activity results in severe neonatal onset of the disease, which is characterized by hyperammonemia within a few days of birth that can rapidly progress to coma and death. The long-term complications of ASA, such as hypertension and neurocognitive deficits, appear to be resistant to the current treatment options of dietary restriction, arginine supplementation, and nitrogen scavenging drugs. Treatment-resistant disease is currently being managed by orthotopic liver transplant, which shows variable improvement and requires lifetime immunosuppression. Here, we developed a gene therapy strategy for ASA aimed at alleviating the symptoms associated with urea cycle disruption by providing stable expression of ASL protein in the liver. We designed a codon-optimized human ASL gene packaged within adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8) as a vector for targeted delivery to the liver. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of this approach, we utilized a murine hypomorphic model of ASA. Neonatal administration of AAV8 via the temporal facial vein extended survival in ASA hypomorphic mice, although not to wild-type levels. Intravenous injection into adolescent hypomorphic mice led to increased survival and body weight and correction of metabolites associated with the disease. Our results demonstrate that AAV8 gene therapy is a viable approach for the treatment of ASA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott N Ashley
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jayme M L Nordin
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Buza
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jenny A Greig
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James M Wilson
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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8
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Bigot A, Tchan MC, Thoreau B, Blasco H, Maillot F. Liver involvement in urea cycle disorders: a review of the literature. J Inherit Metab Dis 2017; 40:757-769. [PMID: 28900784 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-017-0088-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2017] [Revised: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Urea cycle disorders (UCDs) are inborn errors of metabolism of the nitrogen detoxification pathway and encompass six principal enzymatic deficiencies. The aging of UCD patients leads to a better knowledge of the long-term natural history of the condition and to the reporting of previously unnoticed manifestations. Despite historical evidence of liver involvement in UCDs, little attention has been paid to this organ until recently. Hence, we reviewed the available scientific evidence on acute and chronic liver dysfunction and liver carcinogenesis in UCDs and discuss their pathophysiology. Overall, liver involvement, such as acute liver failure or steatotic-like disease, which may evolve toward cirrhosis, has been reported in all six main UCDs. Excessive glycogen storage is also a prominent histologic feature, and hypoglycemia has been reported in citrin deficiency. Hepatocarcinomas seem frequent in some UCDs, such as in citrin deficiency, and can sometimes occur in non-cirrhotic patients. UCDs may differ in liver involvement according to the enzymatic deficiency. Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency may be associated more with acute liver failure and argininosuccinic aciduria with chronic liver failure and cirrhosis. Direct toxicity of metabolites, downstream metabolic deficiencies, impaired tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, energy deficit, and putative toxicity of therapies combine in various ways to cause the different liver diseases reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Bigot
- CHRU de Tours, service médecine interne, Tours, France.
- CHRU de Tours, centre de référence des maladies héréditaires du métabolisme, Tours, France.
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
- Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Bretonneau, 2, boulevard Tonnelle, 37044, Tours, France.
| | - Michel C Tchan
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Benjamin Thoreau
- CHRU de Tours, service médecine interne, Tours, France
- CHRU de Tours, centre de référence des maladies héréditaires du métabolisme, Tours, France
- Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
- UMR INSERM U 1069, Tours, France
| | - Hélène Blasco
- CHRU de Tours, centre de référence des maladies héréditaires du métabolisme, Tours, France
- Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
- CHRU de Tours, service de biochimie-biologie moléculaire, Tours, France
- UMR INSERM U930, 37000, Tours, France
| | - François Maillot
- CHRU de Tours, service médecine interne, Tours, France
- CHRU de Tours, centre de référence des maladies héréditaires du métabolisme, Tours, France
- Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
- UMR INSERM U 1069, Tours, France
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9
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Baruteau J, Jameson E, Morris AA, Chakrapani A, Santra S, Vijay S, Kocadag H, Beesley CE, Grunewald S, Murphy E, Cleary M, Mundy H, Abulhoul L, Broomfield A, Lachmann R, Rahman Y, Robinson PH, MacPherson L, Foster K, Chong WK, Ridout DA, Bounford KM, Waddington SN, Mills PB, Gissen P, Davison JE. Expanding the phenotype in argininosuccinic aciduria: need for new therapies. J Inherit Metab Dis 2017; 40:357-368. [PMID: 28251416 PMCID: PMC5393288 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-017-0022-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This UK-wide study defines the natural history of argininosuccinic aciduria and compares long-term neurological outcomes in patients presenting clinically or treated prospectively from birth with ammonia-lowering drugs. METHODS Retrospective analysis of medical records prior to March 2013, then prospective analysis until December 2015. Blinded review of brain MRIs. ASL genotyping. RESULTS Fifty-six patients were defined as early-onset (n = 23) if symptomatic < 28 days of age, late-onset (n = 23) if symptomatic later, or selectively screened perinatally due to a familial proband (n = 10). The median follow-up was 12.4 years (range 0-53). Long-term outcomes in all groups showed a similar neurological phenotype including developmental delay (48/52), epilepsy (24/52), ataxia (9/52), myopathy-like symptoms (6/52) and abnormal neuroimaging (12/21). Neuroimaging findings included parenchymal infarcts (4/21), focal white matter hyperintensity (4/21), cortical or cerebral atrophy (4/21), nodular heterotopia (2/21) and reduced creatine levels in white matter (4/4). 4/21 adult patients went to mainstream school without the need of additional educational support and 1/21 lives independently. Early-onset patients had more severe involvement of visceral organs including liver, kidney and gut. All early-onset and half of late-onset patients presented with hyperammonaemia. Screened patients had normal ammonia at birth and received treatment preventing severe hyperammonaemia. ASL was sequenced (n = 19) and 20 mutations were found. Plasma argininosuccinate was higher in early-onset compared to late-onset patients. CONCLUSIONS Our study further defines the natural history of argininosuccinic aciduria and genotype-phenotype correlations. The neurological phenotype does not correlate with the severity of hyperammonaemia and plasma argininosuccinic acid levels. The disturbance in nitric oxide synthesis may be a contributor to the neurological disease. Clinical trials providing nitric oxide to the brain merit consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Baruteau
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, WC1N 3JH London, UK
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Programme, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Elisabeth Jameson
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Royal Manchester Children Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew A. Morris
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Royal Manchester Children Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Anupam Chakrapani
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, WC1N 3JH London, UK
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Saikat Santra
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Suresh Vijay
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Huriye Kocadag
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Clare E. Beesley
- North East Thames Regional Genetic Services, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Stephanie Grunewald
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, WC1N 3JH London, UK
| | - Elaine Murphy
- Charles Dent Metabolic Unit, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Maureen Cleary
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, WC1N 3JH London, UK
| | - Helen Mundy
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, UK
| | - Lara Abulhoul
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, WC1N 3JH London, UK
| | - Alexander Broomfield
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, WC1N 3JH London, UK
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Royal Manchester Children Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Robin Lachmann
- Charles Dent Metabolic Unit, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Yusof Rahman
- Metabolic Medicine Department, St Thomas Hospital, London, UK
| | - Peter H. Robinson
- Paediatric Metabolic Medicine, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lesley MacPherson
- Neuroradiology Department, Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Katharine Foster
- Neuroradiology Department, Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - W. Kling Chong
- Neuroradiology Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Deborah A. Ridout
- Population, Policy and Practice Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | | | - Simon N. Waddington
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Philippa B. Mills
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Programme, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Paul Gissen
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, WC1N 3JH London, UK
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Programme, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - James E. Davison
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, WC1N 3JH London, UK
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Yankol Y, Mecit N, Kanmaz T, Acarli K, Kalayoglu M. Argininosuccinic Aciduria-A Rare Indication for Liver Transplant: Report of Two Cases. EXP CLIN TRANSPLANT 2016; 15:581-584. [PMID: 26768012 DOI: 10.6002/ect.2015.0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Argininosuccinic aciduria is a urea cycle disorder caused by an argininosuccinate lyase enzyme deficiency that ends with nitrogen accumulation as ammonia. Argininosuccinic aciduria patients are at risk for long-term complications including poor neurocognitive outcome, hepatic disease, and systemic hypertension despite strict pharmacologic and dietary therapy. As the liver is the principle site of activity of the urea cycle, it is logical that a liver transplant should be an option, with careful patient selection, even in the absence of cirrhosis. We present 2 pediatric argininosuccinic aciduria patients who underwent a living-donor liver transplant from their mothers. After the liver transplant, the general well-being of the patients and their quality of life improved significantly. Liver transplant should be an option for argininosuccinic aciduria patients to prevent further neurologic deterioration and improve the patient's quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucel Yankol
- From the Memorial Sisli Hospital, Organ Transplantation Center, Istanbul, Turkey
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12
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Häberle J, Boddaert N, Burlina A, Chakrapani A, Dixon M, Huemer M, Karall D, Martinelli D, Crespo PS, Santer R, Servais A, Valayannopoulos V, Lindner M, Rubio V, Dionisi-Vici C. Suggested guidelines for the diagnosis and management of urea cycle disorders. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2012; 7:32. [PMID: 22642880 PMCID: PMC3488504 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1172-7-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 361] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2011] [Accepted: 04/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Urea cycle disorders (UCDs) are inborn errors of ammonia detoxification/arginine synthesis due to defects affecting the catalysts of the Krebs-Henseleit cycle (five core enzymes, one activating enzyme and one mitochondrial ornithine/citrulline antiporter) with an estimated incidence of 1:8.000. Patients present with hyperammonemia either shortly after birth (~50%) or, later at any age, leading to death or to severe neurological handicap in many survivors. Despite the existence of effective therapy with alternative pathway therapy and liver transplantation, outcomes remain poor. This may be related to underrecognition and delayed diagnosis due to the nonspecific clinical presentation and insufficient awareness of health care professionals because of disease rarity. These guidelines aim at providing a trans-European consensus to: guide practitioners, set standards of care and help awareness campaigns. To achieve these goals, the guidelines were developed using a Delphi methodology, by having professionals on UCDs across seven European countries to gather all the existing evidence, score it according to the SIGN evidence level system and draw a series of statements supported by an associated level of evidence. The guidelines were revised by external specialist consultants, unrelated authorities in the field of UCDs and practicing pediatricians in training. Although the evidence degree did hardly ever exceed level C (evidence from non-analytical studies like case reports and series), it was sufficient to guide practice on both acute and chronic presentations, address diagnosis, management, monitoring, outcomes, and psychosocial and ethical issues. Also, it identified knowledge voids that must be filled by future research. We believe these guidelines will help to: harmonise practice, set common standards and spread good practices with a positive impact on the outcomes of UCD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Häberle
- University Children’s Hospital Zurich and Children’s Research Centre, Zurich, 8032, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Boddaert
- Radiologie Hopital Necker, Service Radiologie Pediatrique, 149 Rue De Sevres, Paris 15, 75015, France
| | - Alberto Burlina
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Inborn Metabolic Disease, University Hospital Padua, Via Giustiniani 3, Padova, 35128, Italy
| | - Anupam Chakrapani
- Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6NH, United Kingdom
| | - Marjorie Dixon
- Dietetic Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH, United Kingdom
| | - Martina Huemer
- Kinderabteilung, LKH Bregenz, Carl-Pedenz-Strasse 2, Bregenz, A-6900, Austria
| | - Daniela Karall
- University Children’s Hospital, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Diego Martinelli
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, Rome, I-00165, Italy
| | | | - René Santer
- Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany
| | - Aude Servais
- Service de Néphrologie et maladies métaboliques adulte Hôpital Necker 149, rue de Sèvres, Paris, 75015, France
| | - Vassili Valayannopoulos
- Reference Center for Inherited Metabolic Disorders (MaMEA), Hopital Necker-Enfants Malades, 149 Rue de Sevres, Paris, 75015, France
| | - Martin Lindner
- University Children’s Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
| | - Vicente Rubio
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red para Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), C/ Jaume Roig 11, Valencia, 46010, Spain
| | - Carlo Dionisi-Vici
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, Rome, I-00165, Italy
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Abstract
The urea cycle consists of six consecutive enzymatic reactions that convert waste nitrogen into urea. Deficiencies of any of these enzymes of the cycle result in urea cycle disorders (UCDs), a group of inborn errors of hepatic metabolism that often result in life-threatening hyperammonemia. Argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) catalyzes the fourth reaction in this cycle, resulting in the breakdown of argininosuccinic acid to arginine and fumarate. ASL deficiency (ASLD) is the second most common UCD, with a prevalence of ~1 in 70,000 live births. ASLD can manifest as either a severe neonatal-onset form with hyperammonemia within the first few days after birth or as a late-onset form with episodic hyperammonemia and/or long-term complications that include liver dysfunction, neurocognitive deficits, and hypertension. These long-term complications can occur in the absence of hyperammonemic episodes, implying that ASL has functions outside of its role in ureagenesis and the tissue-specific lack of ASL may be responsible for these manifestations. The biochemical diagnosis of ASLD is typically established with elevation of plasma citrulline together with elevated argininosuccinic acid in the plasma or urine. Molecular genetic testing of ASL and assay of ASL enzyme activity are helpful when the biochemical findings are equivocal. However, there is no correlation between the genotype or enzyme activity and clinical outcome. Treatment of acute metabolic decompensations with hyperammonemia involves discontinuing oral protein intake, supplementing oral intake with intravenous lipids and/or glucose, and use of intravenous arginine and nitrogen-scavenging therapy. Dietary restriction of protein and dietary supplementation with arginine are the mainstays in long-term management. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is best considered only in patients with recurrent hyperammonemia or metabolic decompensations resistant to conventional medical therapy.
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Erez A, Nagamani SCS, Lee B. Argininosuccinate lyase deficiency-argininosuccinic aciduria and beyond. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2011; 157C:45-53. [PMID: 21312326 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.30289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The urea cycle consists of six consecutive enzymatic reactions that convert waste nitrogen into urea. Deficiencies of any of these enzymes of the cycle result in urea cycle disorders (UCD), a group of inborn errors of hepatic metabolism that often result in life threatening hyperammonemia. Argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) is a cytosolic enzyme which catalyzes the fourth reaction in the cycle and the first degradative step, that is, the breakdown of argininosuccinic acid to arginine and fumarate. Deficiency of ASL results in an accumulation of argininosuccinic acid in tissues, and excretion of argininosuccinic acid in urine leading to the condition argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA). ASA is an autosomal recessive disorder and is the second most common UCD. In addition to the accumulation of argininosuccinic acid, ASL deficiency results in decreased synthesis of arginine, a feature common to all UCDs except argininemia. Arginine is not only the precursor for the synthesis of urea and ornithine as part of the urea cycle but it is also the substrate for the synthesis of nitric oxide, polyamines, proline, glutamate, creatine, and agmatine. Hence, while ASL is the only enzyme in the body able to generate arginine, at least four enzymes use arginine as substrate: arginine decarboxylase, arginase, nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and arginine/glycine aminotransferase. In the liver, the main function of ASL is ureagenesis, and hence, there is no net synthesis of arginine. In contrast, in most other tissues, its role is to generate arginine that is designated for the specific cell's needs. While patients with ASA share the acute clinical phenotype of hyperammonemia, encephalopathy, and respiratory alkalosis common to other UCD, they also present with unique chronic complications most probably caused by a combination of tissue specific deficiency of arginine and/or elevation of argininosuccinic acid. This review article summarizes the clinical characterization, biochemical, enzymatic, and molecular features of this disorder. Current treatment, prenatal diagnosis, diagnosis through the newborn screening as well as hypothesis driven future treatment modalities are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayelet Erez
- Department of Molecular and Human, Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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15
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New indications and controversies in arginine therapy. Clin Nutr 2008; 27:489-96. [PMID: 18640748 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2008.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2007] [Revised: 05/18/2008] [Accepted: 05/30/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Arginine is an important, versatile and a conditionally essential amino acid. Besides serving as a building block for tissue proteins, arginine plays a critical role in ammonia detoxification, and nitric oxide and creatine production. Arginine supplementation is an essential component for the treatment of urea cycle defects but recently some reservations have been raised with regards to the doses used in the treatment regimens of these disorders. In recent years, arginine supplementation or restriction has been proposed and trialled in several disorders, including vascular diseases and asthma, mitochondrial encephalopathy lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), glutaric aciduria type I and disorders of creatine metabolism, both production and transportation into the central nervous system. Herein we present new therapeutic indications and controversies surrounding arginine supplementation or deprivation.
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