Intracellular degradation of fluorescent glycolipids by lysosomal enzymes and their activators

Identification and characterization of pharmacological chaperones to correct enzyme deficiencies in lysosomal storage disorders

Many human diseases result from mutations in specific genes. Once translated, the resulting aberrant proteins may be functionally competent and produced at near-normal levels. However, because of the mutations, the proteins are recognized by the quality control system of the endoplasmic reticulum and are not processed or trafficked correctly, ultimately leading to cellular dysfunction and disease. Pharmacological chaperones (PCs) are small molecules designed to mitigate this problem by selectively binding and stabilizing their target protein, thus reducing premature degradation, facilitating intracellular trafficking, and increasing cellular activity. Partial or complete restoration of normal function by PCs has been shown for numerous types of mutant proteins, including secreted proteins, transcription factors, ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors, and, importantly, lysosomal enzymes. Collectively, lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) result from genetic mutations in the genes that encode specific lysosomal enzymes, leading to a deficiency in essential enzymatic activity and cellular accumulation of the respective substrate. To date, over 50 different LSDs have been identified, several of which are treated clinically with enzyme replacement therapy or substrate reduction therapy, although insufficiently in some cases. Importantly, a wide range of in vitro assays are now available to measure mutant lysosomal enzyme interaction with and stabilization by PCs, as well as subsequent increases in cellular enzyme levels and function. The application of these assays to the identification and characterization of candidate PCs for mutant lysosomal enzymes will be discussed in this review. In addition, considerations for the successful in vivo use and development of PCs to treat LSDs will be discussed.

Use of lissamine rhodamine ceramide trihexoside as a functional assay for alpha-galactosidase A in intact cells

Fabry disease is an X-linked disorder caused by mutations in the GLA gene encoding for alpha-galactosidase A (AGA, EC 3.2.1.22). Measurement of AGA enzyme activity using cell homogenates can easily identify men with Fabry disease, but in women, the degree of X-inactivation in the tested tissue may produce activities in homogenates that are indistinguishable from normal. Monti et al. developed a series of lissamine rhodamine-labeled glycosphingolipid substrates that can be used to measure clearance of these lipids in intact cells (1). We report here that one of these substrates, lissamine rhodamine ceramide trihexoside (LR-CTH), can be used as a probe for functional activity of AGA in intact fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and T-lymphocytes from patients with Fabry disease. By utilizing standard detection techniques, such as microscopic imaging, fluorescence microplate spectrophotometry, and flow cytometry, cells with impaired AGA activity can easily be distinguished from wild-type (WT) cells, and these two cell types can be isolated into separate populations using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The assay we report here can be adapted to evaluate new therapies by high-throughput screening, can aid in the study of AGA activity in living cells, and can assist in the diagnosis of women with the Fabry trait.

Involvement of secretory and endosomal compartments in presentation of an exogenous self-glycolipid to type II NKT cells

Natural Killer T (NKT) cells recognize both self and foreign lipid Ags presented by CD1 molecules. Although presentation of the marine sponge-derived lipid alphaGalCer to type I NKT cells has been well studied, little is known about self-glycolipid presentation to either type I or type II NKT cells. Here we have investigated presentation of the self-glycolipid sulfatide to a type II NKT cell that specifically recognizes a single species of sulfatide, namely lyso-sulfatide but not other sulfatides containing additional acyl chains. In comparison to other sulfatides or alphaGalCer, lyso-sulfatide binds with lower affinity to CD1d. Although plate-bound CD1d is inefficient in presenting lyso-sulfatide at neutral pH, it is efficiently presented at acidic pH and in the presence of saposin C. The lysosomal trafficking of mCD1d is required for alphaGalCer presentation to type I NKT cells, it is not important for presentation of lyso-sulfatide to type II NKT cells. Consistently, APCs deficient in a lysosomal lipid-transfer protein effectively present lyso-sulfatide. Presentation of lyso-sulfatide is inhibited in the presence of primaquine, concanamycin A, monensin, cycloheximide, and an inhibitor of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein but remains unchanged following treatment with brefeldin A. Wortmannin-mediated inhibition of lipid presentation indicates an important role for the PI-3kinase in mCD1d trafficking. Our data collectively suggest that weak CD1d-binding self-glycolipid ligands such as lyso-sulfatide can be presented via the secretory and endosomal compartments. Thus this study provides important insights into the exogenous self-glycolipid presentation to CD1d-restricted T cells.

Preimplantation diagnosis of a lysosomal storage disorder by in situ enzymatic activity: 'proof of principle' in acid sphingomyelinase-deficient mice

Genetic diagnosis of preimplantation embryos (PGD) can substantially reduce the chance that at-risk couples have children afflicted with inherited diseases. However, PGD requires DNA,which is usually obtained from single cells following embryo biopsy. In addition, PGD requires that the genetic defect(s) causing the disorder be known. We have therefore developed an alternative to PGD, which we term preimplantation enzymatic diagnosis (PED). PED has several advantages over PGD, including the facts that it does not require embryo biopsy and that the gene defect(s) causing the disorder need not be known. We have demonstrated 'proof of principle' for this approach using embryos obtained from a mouse model (ASMKO mice) of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)-deficient Niemann-Pick disease, an inherited lysosomal storage disorder. For this technique, fluorescently (BODIPY)-conjugated sphingomyelin was used to detect ASM activity in situ. Wild-type, preimplantation embryos degraded the substrate following a short 'pulse-chase' period, resulting in markedly reduced fluorescence compared to ASMKO embryos, which retained the fluorescent substrate. Thus, the two embryo types could be easily distinguished by fluorescent microscopy. The fluorescent sphingomyelin was not toxic to the embryos, and the entire procedure could be accomplished within 48 h without embryo biopsy. We suggest that PED may be useful for the preimplantation diagnosis of lysosomal storage disorders, and perhaps other enzymatic defects where similar in situ assay methods are available.

Ex vivo localization of the mouse saposin C activation region for acid beta-glucosidase

Saposin C is a biological activator of acid beta-glucosidase (GCase), the lysosomal hydrolase with activity towards glucosylceramide (GC). In addition, saposin C possesses a functional domain that determines the in vitro and ex vivo neuritogenic effects of prosaposin, the precursor of saposins A, B, C, and D. The domains for enzymatic activation and neuritogenic function segregate in vitro, respectively, to the carboxyl- and amino-terminal halves of human and mouse saposin C. A chimeric mouse saposin C(1-8)B(8-28)C(30-80) was created to obliterate the neuritogenic region by substituting amino acids 9-29 of saposin C with amino acids 8-28 of saposin B. This saposin showed normal in vitro enzymatic activation effects toward GCase, but no neuritogenic activity. An altered prosaposin was made to contain the chimeric saposin C region. Expression of this altered or wild-type prosaposin was driven by the PGK-1 promoter as a transgene in prosaposin knock-out mice. In cultured fibroblasts from such mice, expressed saposins localized to the lysosomal compartments. Metabolic lipid labeling using L-[3-(14)C]serine showed retention or clearance of GC in prosaposin deficient or transgene reconstituted cells, respectively. In addition, sulfatide catabolism, that requires saposin B and arylsulfatase, was also normalized in prosaposin KO cells reconstituted with the transgenes. These data show that the transgenic prosaposins were expressed and processed to functional saposins in fibroblasts. These results also show that the enzymatic activation domain is located at carboxyl-terminal half of saposin C and functions only in the context of the general saposin structure.