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Adang LA, Groeschel S, Grzyb C, D'Aiello R, Gavazzi F, Sherbini O, Bronner N, Patel A, Vincent A, Sevagamoorthy A, Mutua S, Muirhead K, Schmidt J, Pizzino A, Yu E, Jin D, Eichler F, Fraser JL, Emrick L, Van Haren K, Boulanger JM, Ruzhnikov M, Sylvain M, Nguyen CTÉ, Potic A, Keller S, Fatemi A, Uebergang E, Poe M, Yazdani PA, Bernat J, Lindstrom K, Bonkowsky JL, Bernard G, Stutterd CA, Orchard P, Gupta AO, Ljungberg M, Groenborg S, Zambon A, Locatelli S, Fumagalli F, Elguen S, Kehrer C, Krägeloh-Mann I, Shults J, Vanderver A, Escolar ML. Developmental delay can precede neurologic regression in early onset metachromatic leukodystrophy. Mol Genet Metab 2024; 142:108521. [PMID: 38964050 PMCID: PMC11348664 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2024.108521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder. Emerging therapies are most effective in the presymptomatic phase, and thus defining this window is critical. We hypothesize that early development delay may precede developmental plateau. With the advent of presymptomatic screening platforms and transformative therapies, it is essential to define the onset of neurologic disease. METHODS The specific ages of gain and loss of developmental milestones were captured from the medical records of individuals affected by MLD. Milestone acquisition was characterized as: on target (obtained before the age limit of 90th percentile plus 2 standard deviations compared to a normative dataset), delayed (obtained after 90th percentile plus 2 standard deviations), or plateau (skills never gained). Regression was defined as the age at which skills were lost. LI-MLD was defined by age at onset before 2.5 years. RESULTS Across an international cohort, 351 subjects were included (n = 194 LI-MLD subcohort). The median age at presentation of the LI-MLD cohort was 1.4 years (25th-75th %ile: 1.0-1.5). Within the LI-MLD cohort, 75/194 (39%) had developmental delay (or plateau) prior to MLD clinical presentation. Among the LI-MLD cohort with a minimum of 1.5 years of follow-up (n = 187), 73 (39.0%) subjects never attained independent ambulation. Within LI-MLD + delay subcohort, the median time between first missed milestone target to MLD decline was 0.60 years (maximum distance from delay to onset: 1.9 years). INTERPRETATION Early developmental delay precedes regression in a subset of children affected by LI-MLD, defining the onset of neurologic dysfunction earlier than previously appreciated. The use of realworld data prior to diagnosis revealed an early deviation from typical development. Close monitoring for early developmental delay in presymptomatic individuals may help in earlier diagnosis with important consequences for treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ann Adang
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Samuel Groeschel
- University Children's Hospital, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.1, Tuebingen, DE 72070, USA.
| | - Chloe Grzyb
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Pediatrics, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
| | - Russell D'Aiello
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Francesco Gavazzi
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Omar Sherbini
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Nowa Bronner
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Akshilkumar Patel
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Ariel Vincent
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | | | - Sylvia Mutua
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Kayla Muirhead
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Johanna Schmidt
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Amy Pizzino
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Emily Yu
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | | | | | - Jamie L Fraser
- Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010-2978, USA.
| | - Lisa Emrick
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Michel Sylvain
- Université Laval, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Centre Mère-Enfant Soleil, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Cam-Tu Émilie Nguyen
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Department of Neurosciences and Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Ana Potic
- University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Clinic for Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Beograd, Republic of Serbia
| | - Stephanie Keller
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite Hospital, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Ali Fatemi
- Kennedy Krieger Institute and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Eloise Uebergang
- Royal Children's Hospital, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Michele Poe
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Pediatrics, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
| | - Pouneh Amir Yazdani
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - John Bernat
- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| | - Kristen Lindstrom
- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc, Novato, CA, USA; Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Joshua L Bonkowsky
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, 295 Chipeta Way, Williams Building, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
| | - Genevieve Bernard
- Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Center, Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology and Neurosurgery, 2300 Tupper, Room A-506, Montreal, QC H3H 1P3, Canada.
| | - Chloe A Stutterd
- Royal Children's Hospital, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | | | | | - Merete Ljungberg
- Copenhagen University Hospital, Centre Inherited Metabolic Disease, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Kobenhavn, Denmark.
| | - Sabine Groenborg
- Copenhagen University Hospital, Centre Inherited Metabolic Disease, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Kobenhavn, Denmark.
| | - Alberto Zambon
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy.
| | - Sara Locatelli
- San Raffaele Hospital, Paediatric Immunohematology and Unit of Neurology, Milano, Lombardia, Italy.
| | | | - Saskia Elguen
- University Children's Hospital, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.1, Tuebingen, DE 72070, USA.
| | - Christiane Kehrer
- University Children's Hospital, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.1, Tuebingen, DE 72070, USA.
| | | | - Justine Shults
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Adeline Vanderver
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Maria L Escolar
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Pediatrics, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
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Adang LA, Bonkowsky JL, Boelens JJ, Mallack E, Ahrens-Nicklas R, Bernat JA, Bley A, Burton B, Darling A, Eichler F, Eklund E, Emrick L, Escolar M, Fatemi A, Fraser JL, Gaviglio A, Keller S, Patterson MC, Orchard P, Orthmann-Murphy J, Santoro JD, Schöls L, Sevin C, Srivastava IN, Rajan D, Rubin JP, Van Haren K, Wasserstein M, Zerem A, Fumagalli F, Laugwitz L, Vanderver A. Consensus guidelines for the monitoring and management of metachromatic leukodystrophy in the United States. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:739-748. [PMID: 38613540 PMCID: PMC11348704 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.03.487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic mutations in the ARSA (Arylsulfatase A) gene. With the advent of presymptomatic diagnosis and the availability of therapies with a narrow window for intervention, it is critical to define a standardized approach to diagnosis, presymptomatic monitoring, and clinical care. To meet the needs of the MLD community, a panel of MLD experts was established to develop disease-specific guidelines based on healthcare resources in the United States. This group developed a consensus opinion for best-practice recommendations, as follows: (i) Diagnosis should include both genetic and biochemical testing; (ii) Early diagnosis and treatment for MLD is associated with improved clinical outcomes; (iii) The panel supported the development of newborn screening to accelerate the time to diagnosis and treatment; (iv) Clinical management of MLD should include specialists familiar with the disease who are able to follow patients longitudinally; (v) In early onset MLD, including late infantile and early juvenile subtypes, ex vivo gene therapy should be considered for presymptomatic patients where available; (vi) In late-onset MLD, including late juvenile and adult subtypes, hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) should be considered for patients with no or minimal disease involvement. This document summarizes current guidance on the presymptomatic monitoring of children affected by MLD as well as the clinical management of symptomatic patients. Future data-driven evidence and evolution of these recommendations will be important to stratify clinical treatment options and improve clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Adang
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | | | - Jaap Jan Boelens
- Department of Pediatrics, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Eric Mallack
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - John A Bernat
- University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Annette Bley
- University Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Burton
- Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | | | | | - Lisa Emrick
- Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Maria Escolar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Forge Biologics, Grove City, Ohio, USA
| | - Ali Fatemi
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jamie L Fraser
- Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Amy Gaviglio
- Division of Laboratory Services, Newborn Screening and Molecular Biology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Association of Public Health Laboratories, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Marc C Patterson
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA; Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA; Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Paul Orchard
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Jonathan D Santoro
- University of Southern California, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ludger Schöls
- Department of Neurology and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Isha N Srivastava
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Deepa Rajan
- University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Keith Van Haren
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Melissa Wasserstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Ayelet Zerem
- Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Lucia Laugwitz
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Adeline Vanderver
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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3
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Li T, Huang Y, Tao C, Yin X, Su X, Shao Y, Liang C, Jiang M, Cai Y, Lin Y, Zeng C, Zhao X, Liu L, Zhang W. Biochemical and molecular analysis of pediatric patients with metachromatic leukodystrophy in South China: functional characterization of five novel ARSA variants. Metab Brain Dis 2024; 39:753-762. [PMID: 38775997 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-024-01348-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare hereditary neurodegenerative disease caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA). This study described the clinical and molecular characteristics of 24 Chinese children with MLD and investigated functional characterization of five novel ARSA variants. A retrospective analysis was performed in 24 patients diagnosed with MLD at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center in South China. Five novel mutations were further characterized by transient expression studies. We recruited 17 late-infantile, 3 early-juvenile, 4 late-juvenile MLD patients. In late-infantile patients, motor developmental delay and gait disturbance were the most frequent symptoms at onset. In juvenile patients, cognitive regression and gait disturbance were the most frequent chief complaints. Overall, 25 different ARSA mutations were identified with 5 novel mutations.The most frequent alleles were p.W320* and p.G449Rfs. The mutation p.W320*, p.Q155=, p.P91L, p.G156D, p.H208Mfs*46 and p.G449Rfs may link to late-infantile type. The novel missense mutations were predicted damaging in silico. The bioinformatic structural analysis of the novel missense mutations showed that these amino acid replacements would cause severe impairment of protein structure and function. In vitro functional analysis of the six mutants, showing a low ARSA enzyme activity, clearly demonstrated their pathogenic nature. The mutation p.D413N linked to R alleles. In western blotting analysis of the ARSA protein, the examined mutations retained reduced amounts of ARSA protein compared to the wild type. This study expands the spectrum of genotype of MLD. It helps to the future studies of genotype-phenotype correlations to estimate prognosis and develop new therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taolin Li
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yonglan Huang
- Department of Guangzhou Newborn Screening Center, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunyan Tao
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xi Yin
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xueying Su
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongxian Shao
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cuili Liang
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Minyan Jiang
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanna Cai
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yunting Lin
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chunhua Zeng
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Zhao
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, 510623, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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4
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Chang SC, Eichinger CS, Field P. The natural history and burden of illness of metachromatic leukodystrophy: a systematic literature review. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:181. [PMID: 38494502 PMCID: PMC10946116 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01771-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD; OMIM 250100 and 249900) is a rare lysosomal storage disease caused by deficient arylsulfatase A activity, leading to accumulation of sulfatides in the nervous system. This systematic literature review aimed to explore the effect of MLD on the lives of patients. METHODS The Ovid platform was used to search Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library for articles related to the natural history, clinical outcomes, and burden of illness of MLD; congress and hand searches were performed using 'metachromatic leukodystrophy' as a keyword. Of the 531 publications identified, 120 were included for data extraction following screening. A subset of findings from studies relating to MLD natural history and burden of illness (n = 108) are presented here. RESULTS The mean age at symptom onset was generally 16-18 months for late-infantile MLD and 6-10 years for juvenile MLD. Age at diagnosis and time to diagnosis varied widely. Typically, patients with late-infantile MLD presented predominantly with motor symptoms and developmental delay; patients with juvenile MLD presented with motor, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms; and patients with adult MLD presented with cognitive symptoms and psychiatric and mood disorders. Patients with late-infantile MLD had more rapid decline of motor function over time and lower survival than patients with juvenile MLD. Commonly reported comorbidities/complications included ataxia, epilepsy, gallbladder abnormalities, incontinence, neuropathy, and seizures. CONCLUSIONS Epidemiology of MLD by geographic regions, quantitative cognitive data, data on the differences between early- and late-juvenile MLD, and humanistic or economic outcomes were limited. Further studies on clinical, humanistic (i.e., quality of life), and economic outcomes are needed to help inform healthcare decisions for patients with MLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Chiao Chang
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., 125 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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5
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Laugwitz L, Schoenmakers DH, Adang LA, Beck-Woedl S, Bergner C, Bernard G, Bley A, Boyer A, Calbi V, Dekker H, Eichler F, Eklund E, Fumagalli F, Gavazzi F, Grønborg SW, van Hasselt P, Langeveld M, Lindemans C, Mochel F, Oberg A, Ram D, Saunier-Vivar E, Schöls L, Scholz M, Sevin C, Zerem A, Wolf NI, Groeschel S. Newborn screening in metachromatic leukodystrophy - European consensus-based recommendations on clinical management. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2024; 49:141-154. [PMID: 38554683 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2024.03.003] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder resulting from arylsulfatase A enzyme deficiency, leading to toxic sulfatide accumulation. As a result affected individuals exhibit progressive neurodegeneration. Treatments such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and gene therapy are effective when administered pre-symptomatically. Newborn screening (NBS) for MLD has recently been shown to be technically feasible and is indicated because of available treatment options. However, there is a lack of guidance on how to monitor and manage identified cases. This study aims to establish consensus among international experts in MLD and patient advocates on clinical management for NBS-identified MLD cases. METHODS A real-time Delphi procedure using eDELPHI software with 22 experts in MLD was performed. Questions, based on a literature review and workshops, were answered during a seven-week period. Three levels of consensus were defined: A) 100%, B) 75-99%, and C) 50-74% or >75% but >25% neutral votes. Recommendations were categorized by agreement level, from strongly recommended to suggested. Patient advocates participated in discussions and were involved in the final consensus. RESULTS The study presents 57 statements guiding clinical management of NBS-identified MLD patients. Key recommendations include timely communication by MLD experts with identified families, treating early-onset MLD with gene therapy and late-onset MLD with HSCT, as well as pre-treatment monitoring schemes. Specific knowledge gaps were identified, urging prioritized research for future evidence-based guidelines. DISCUSSION Consensus-based recommendations for NBS in MLD will enhance harmonized management and facilitate integration in national screening programs. Structured data collection and monitoring of screening programs are crucial for evidence generation and future guideline development. Involving patient representatives in the development of recommendations seems essential for NBS programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Laugwitz
- Neuropediatrics, General Pediatrics, Diabetology, Endocrinology and Social Pediatrics, University of Tuebingen, University Hospital Tübingen, 72016, Tübingen, Germany; Institute for Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, 72070, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Daphne H Schoenmakers
- Department of Child Neurology, Emma's Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Medicine for Society, Platform at Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Laura A Adang
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stefanie Beck-Woedl
- Institute for Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, 72070, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Caroline Bergner
- Leukodystrophy Center, Departement of Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Germany
| | - Geneviève Bernard
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Pediatrics and Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department Specialized Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada; Child Health and Human Development Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada
| | | | | | - Valeria Calbi
- Pediatric Immuno-Hematology Unit, Ospedale San Raffaele Milan, Italy; San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Milan, Italy
| | - Hanka Dekker
- Dutch Association for Inherited Metabolic Diseases (VKS), the Netherlands
| | | | - Erik Eklund
- Pediatrics, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Francesca Fumagalli
- Pediatric Immuno-Hematology Unit, Ospedale San Raffaele Milan, Italy; San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Milan, Italy; Unit of Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Gavazzi
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sabine W Grønborg
- Center for Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter van Hasselt
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mirjam Langeveld
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism (AGEM) Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Caroline Lindemans
- Department of Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, UMC Utrecht and Princess Maxima Center, the Netherlands
| | - Fanny Mochel
- Reference Center for Adult Leukodystrophy, Department of Medical Genetics, Sorbonne University, Paris Brain Institute, La Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Andreas Oberg
- Norwegian National Unit for Newborn Screening, Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Dipak Ram
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Ludger Schöls
- Department of Neurology and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Ayelet Zerem
- Pediatric Neurology Institute, Leukodystrophy Center, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nicole I Wolf
- Department of Child Neurology, Emma's Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Samuel Groeschel
- Neuropediatrics, General Pediatrics, Diabetology, Endocrinology and Social Pediatrics, University of Tuebingen, University Hospital Tübingen, 72016, Tübingen, Germany
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6
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Jonckheere AI, Kingma SDK, Eyskens F, Bordon V, Jansen AC. Metachromatic leukodystrophy: To screen or not to screen? Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2023; 46:1-7. [PMID: 37354699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the gene encoding arylsulfatase A. Disease onset is variable (with late infantile, early and late juvenile, and adult forms) and treatment options depend on age and disease symptoms at onset. In the past, allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) has been the best treatment option, following strict selection criteria. The outcome however is variable and morbidity remains high. This paved the way to the development of new treatment options, some of them aiming to be curative. In the light of this changing therapeutic field, newborn screening is becoming a valuable option. This narrative review aims to describe the outcome of allo-HSCT in the different MLD disease forms, and, in addition, reviews new treatment options. Finally, the shift of the field towards newborn screening for MLD is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- An I Jonckheere
- Department of Child Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium; Centre for Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
| | - Sandra D K Kingma
- Centre for Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - François Eyskens
- Centre for Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Victoria Bordon
- Department of Child Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anna C Jansen
- Department of Child Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
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7
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Trinidad M, Hong X, Froelich S, Daiker J, Sacco J, Nguyen HP, Campagna M, Suhr D, Suhr T, LeBowitz JH, Gelb MH, Clark WT. Predicting disease severity in metachromatic leukodystrophy using protein activity and a patient phenotype matrix. Genome Biol 2023; 24:172. [PMID: 37480112 PMCID: PMC10360315 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03001-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the arylsulfatase A gene (ARSA) and categorized into three subtypes according to age of onset. The functional effect of most ARSA mutants remains unknown; better understanding of the genotype-phenotype relationship is required to support newborn screening (NBS) and guide treatment. RESULTS We collected a patient data set from the literature that relates disease severity to ARSA genotype in 489 individuals with MLD. Patient-based data were used to develop a phenotype matrix that predicts MLD phenotype given ARSA alleles in a patient's genotype with 76% accuracy. We then employed a high-throughput enzyme activity assay using mass spectrometry to explore the function of ARSA variants from the curated patient data set and the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD). We observed evidence that 36% of variants of unknown significance (VUS) in ARSA may be pathogenic. By classifying functional effects for 251 VUS from gnomAD, we reduced the incidence of genotypes of unknown significance (GUS) by over 98.5% in the overall population. CONCLUSIONS These results provide an additional tool for clinicians to anticipate the disease course in MLD patients, identifying individuals at high risk of severe disease to support treatment access. Our results suggest that more than 1 in 3 VUS in ARSA may be pathogenic. We show that combining genetic and biochemical information increases diagnostic yield. Our strategy may apply to other recessive diseases, providing a tool to address the challenge of interpreting VUS within genotype-phenotype relationships and NBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marena Trinidad
- Translational Genomics Group, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Novato, CA, USA
| | - Xinying Hong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Steven Froelich
- Translational Genomics Group, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Novato, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Daiker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - James Sacco
- Translational Genomics Group, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Novato, CA, USA
| | - Hong Phuc Nguyen
- Translational Genomics Group, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Novato, CA, USA
| | - Madelynn Campagna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Michael H Gelb
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Wyatt T Clark
- Translational Genomics Group, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Novato, CA, USA.
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8
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Chiesa R, Bernardo ME. Haematopoietic stem cell gene therapy in inborn errors of metabolism. Br J Haematol 2022; 198:227-243. [PMID: 35535965 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Over the last 30 years, allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) has been adopted as a therapeutic strategy for many inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), due to the ability of donor-derived cells to provide life-long enzyme delivery to deficient tissues and organs. However, (a) the clinical benefit of allo-HSCT is limited to a small number of IEM, (b) patients are left with a substantial residual disease burden and (c) allo-HSCT is still associated with significant short- and long-term toxicities and transplant-related mortality. Haematopoietic stem/progenitor cell gene therapy (HSPC-GT) was established in the 1990s for the treatment of selected monogenic primary immunodeficiencies and over the past few years, its use has been extended to a number of IEM. HSPC-GT is particularly attractive in neurodegenerative IEM, as gene corrected haematopoietic progenitors can deliver supra-physiological enzyme levels to difficult-to-reach areas, such as the brain and the skeleton, with potential increased clinical benefit. Moreover, HSPC-GT is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality compared to allo-HSCT, although this needs to be balanced against the potential risk of insertional mutagenesis. The number of clinical trials in the IEM field is rapidly increasing and some HSPC-GT products recently received market approval. This review describes the development of ex vivo HSPC-GT in a number of IEM, with a focus on recent results from GT clinical trials and risks versus benefits considerations, when compared to established therapeutic strategies, such as allo-HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Chiesa
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Maria Ester Bernardo
- Pediatric Immunohematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,"Vita Salute" San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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9
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Antony JS, Daniel-Moreno A, Lamsfus-Calle A, Raju J, Kaftancioglu M, Ureña-Bailén G, Rottenberger J, Hou Y, Santhanakumaran V, Lee JH, Heumos L, Böhringer J, Krägeloh-Mann I, Handgretinger R, Mezger M. A Mutation-Agnostic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Gene Therapy for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. CRISPR J 2021; 5:66-79. [PMID: 34882002 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2021.0075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the Arylsulfatase-A (ARSA) gene. The enzyme plays a key role in sulfatide metabolism in brain cells, and its deficiency leads to neurodegeneration. The clinical manifestations of MLD include stagnation and decline of motor and cognitive function, leading to premature death with limited standard treatment options. Here, we describe a mutation-agnostic hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) gene therapy using CRISPR-Cas9 and AAV6 repair template as a prospective treatment option for MLD. Our strategy achieved efficient insertions and deletions (>87%) and a high level of gene integration (>47%) at the ARSA locus in human bone marrow-derived HSPCs, with no detectable off-target editing. As a proof of concept, we tested our mutation-agnostic therapy in HSPCs derived from two MLD patients with distinct mutations and demonstrated restoration of ARSA enzyme activity (>30-fold improvement) equivalent to healthy adults. In summary, our investigation enabled a mutation-agnostic therapy for MLD patients with proven efficacy and strong potential for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin S Antony
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alberto Daniel-Moreno
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrés Lamsfus-Calle
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Janani Raju
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Merve Kaftancioglu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Guillermo Ureña-Bailén
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Rottenberger
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yujuan Hou
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Vidiyaah Santhanakumaran
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Germany; and University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jun-Hoe Lee
- Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Heumos
- Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Judith Böhringer
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Germany; and University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ingeborg Krägeloh-Mann
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Germany; and University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rupert Handgretinger
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Markus Mezger
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Tübingen, Germany; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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10
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Marchetti M, Faggiano S, Mozzarelli A. Enzyme Replacement Therapy for Genetic Disorders Associated with Enzyme Deficiency. Curr Med Chem 2021; 29:489-525. [PMID: 34042028 DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210526144654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in human genes might lead to loss of functional proteins, causing diseases. Among these genetic disorders, a large class is associated with the deficiency in metabolic enzymes, resulting in both an increase in the concentration of substrates and a loss in the metabolites produced by the catalyzed reactions. The identification of therapeutic actions based on small molecules represents a challenge to medicinal chemists because the target is missing. Alternative approaches are biology-based, ranging from gene and stem cell therapy, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, distinct types of RNAs, and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). This review will focus on the latter approach that since the 1990s has been successfully applied to cure many rare diseases, most of them being lysosomal storage diseases or metabolic diseases. So far, a dozen enzymes have been approved by FDA/EMA for lysosome storage disorders and only a few for metabolic diseases. Enzymes for replacement therapy are mainly produced in mammalian cells and some in plant cells and yeasts and are further processed to obtain active, highly bioavailable, less degradable products. Issues still under investigation for the increase in ERT efficacy are the optimization of enzymes interaction with cell membrane and internalization, the reduction in immunogenicity, and the overcoming of blood-brain barrier limitations when neuronal cells need to be targeted. Overall, ERT has demonstrated its efficacy and safety in the treatment of many genetic rare diseases, both saving newborn lives and improving patients' life quality, and represents a very successful example of targeted biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialaura Marchetti
- Biopharmanet-TEC Interdepartmental Center, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, Bldg 33., 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Serena Faggiano
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 23/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Mozzarelli
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
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11
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Shaimardanova AA, Chulpanova DS, Solovyeva VV, Mullagulova AI, Kitaeva KV, Allegrucci C, Rizvanov AA. Metachromatic Leukodystrophy: Diagnosis, Modeling, and Treatment Approaches. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:576221. [PMID: 33195324 PMCID: PMC7606900 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.576221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Metachromatic leukodystrophy is a lysosomal storage disease, which is characterized by damage of the myelin sheath that covers most of nerve fibers of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The disease occurs due to a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA) or its sphingolipid activator protein B (SapB) and it clinically manifests as progressive motor and cognitive deficiency. ARSA and SapB protein deficiency are caused by mutations in the ARSA and PSAP genes, respectively. The severity of clinical course in metachromatic leukodystrophy is determined by the residual ARSA activity, depending on the type of mutation. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this disease. Clinical cases of bone marrow or cord blood transplantation have been reported, however the therapeutic effectiveness of these methods remains insufficient to prevent aggravation of neurological disorders. Encouraging results have been obtained using gene therapy for delivering the wild-type ARSA gene using vectors based on various serotypes of adeno-associated viruses, as well as using mesenchymal stem cells and combined gene-cell therapy. This review discusses therapeutic strategies for the treatment of metachromatic leukodystrophy, as well as diagnostic methods and modeling of this pathology in animals to evaluate the effectiveness of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa A Shaimardanova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Daria S Chulpanova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia.,Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, The Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valeriya V Solovyeva
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia.,Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, The Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aysilu I Mullagulova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Kristina V Kitaeva
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Cinzia Allegrucci
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science (SVMS) and Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Albert A Rizvanov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
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12
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Guo L, Jin B, Zhang Y, Wang J. Identification of a missense ARSA mutation in metachromatic leukodystrophy and its potential pathogenic mechanism. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2020; 8:e1478. [PMID: 32875726 PMCID: PMC7667344 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare inherited lysosomal disorder caused by mutations in ARSA. The biological processes of MLD disease caused by candidate pathogenic mutations in the ARSA gene remain unclear. Methods We used whole‐exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing to identify the pathogenic mutation in a Chinese family. Literature review and protein three‐dimensional structure prediction were performed to analyze the potential pathogenesis of the identified mutations. Overexpression cell models of wild‐type and mutated ARSA genes were constructed. The accumulated sulfatides and expression profiles in the cell models were detected, and a series of bioinformatics analyses were carried out to compare the biological changes caused by the candidate pathogenic mutations. Results We identified an ARSA c.925G>A homozygous mutation from a Chinese late‐infantile MLD patient, the first report of this mutation in East Asia. The literature and protein structure analysis indicated that three types of mutations at c.925G (c.925G>A, c.925G>T, c.925G>C) were pathogenic. The overexpression of wild‐type or mutated ARSA genes influenced the accumulation of sulfatides. The co‐expression modules in the mutated cell models were constructed by genes related to calcium signaling and vesicle transport. Conclusion Our results identified a pathogenic mutation, ARSA homozygosity c.925G>A, from a Chinese MLD family. The pathogenic mechanism of the ARSA mutation in MLD was identified, which may suggest new approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Guo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Jin
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yidan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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13
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Beerepoot S, Nierkens S, Boelens JJ, Lindemans C, Bugiani M, Wolf NI. Peripheral neuropathy in metachromatic leukodystrophy: current status and future perspective. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2019; 14:240. [PMID: 31684987 PMCID: PMC6829806 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-019-1220-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessively inherited metabolic disease characterized by deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme arylsulfatase A. Its deficiency results in accumulation of sulfatides in neural and visceral tissues, and causes demyelination of the central and peripheral nervous system. This leads to a broad range of neurological symptoms and eventually premature death. In asymptomatic patients with juvenile and adult MLD, treatment with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) provides a symptomatic and survival benefit. However, this treatment mainly impacts brain white matter, whereas the peripheral neuropathy shows no or only limited response. Data about the impact of peripheral neuropathy in MLD patients are currently lacking, although in our experience peripheral neuropathy causes significant morbidity due to neuropathic pain, foot deformities and neurogenic bladder disturbances. Besides, the reasons for residual and often progressive peripheral neuropathy after HCT are not fully understood. Preliminary studies suggest that peripheral neuropathy might respond better to gene therapy due to higher enzyme levels achieved than with HCT. However, histopathological and clinical findings also suggest a role of neuroinflammation in the pathology of peripheral neuropathy in MLD. In this literature review, we discuss clinical aspects, pathological findings, distribution of mutations, and treatment approaches in MLD with particular emphasis on peripheral neuropathy. We believe that future therapies need more emphasis on the management of peripheral neuropathy, and additional research is needed to optimize care strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanice Beerepoot
- Department of Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan Nierkens
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Princess Máxima Center and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jaap Jan Boelens
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapies, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Caroline Lindemans
- Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Princess Máxima Center and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Regenerative medicine institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marianna Bugiani
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nicole I Wolf
- Department of Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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14
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Rosenberg JB, Kaminsky SM, Aubourg P, Crystal RG, Sondhi D. Gene therapy for metachromatic leukodystrophy. J Neurosci Res 2017; 94:1169-79. [PMID: 27638601 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Leukodystrophies (LDs) are rare, often devastating genetic disorders with neurologic symptoms. There are currently no disease-specific therapeutic approaches for these diseases. In this review we use metachromatic leukodystrophy as an example to outline in the brief the therapeutic approaches to MLD that have been tested in animal models and in clinical trials, such as enzyme-replacement therapy, bone marrow/umbilical cord blood transplants, ex vivo transplantation of genetically modified hematopoietic stem cells, and gene therapy. These studies suggest that to be successful the ideal therapy for MLD must provide persistent and high level expression of the deficient gene, arylsulfatase A in the CNS. Gene therapy using adeno-associated viruses is therefore the ideal choice for clinical development as it provides the best balance of potential for efficacy with reduced safety risk. Here we have summarized the published preclinical data from our group and from others that support the use of a gene therapy with AAVrh.10 serotype for clinical development as a treatment for MLD, and as an example of the potential of gene therapy for LDs especially for Krabbe disease, which is the focus of this special issue. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Rosenberg
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Stephen M Kaminsky
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | | | - Ronald G Crystal
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Dolan Sondhi
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
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15
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Sessa M, Lorioli L, Fumagalli F, Acquati S, Redaelli D, Baldoli C, Canale S, Lopez ID, Morena F, Calabria A, Fiori R, Silvani P, Rancoita PMV, Gabaldo M, Benedicenti F, Antonioli G, Assanelli A, Cicalese MP, Del Carro U, Sora MGN, Martino S, Quattrini A, Montini E, Di Serio C, Ciceri F, Roncarolo MG, Aiuti A, Naldini L, Biffi A. Lentiviral haemopoietic stem-cell gene therapy in early-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy: an ad-hoc analysis of a non-randomised, open-label, phase 1/2 trial. Lancet 2016; 388:476-87. [PMID: 27289174 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(16)30374-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 343] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metachromatic leukodystrophy (a deficiency of arylsulfatase A [ARSA]) is a fatal demyelinating lysosomal disease with no approved treatment. We aimed to assess the long-term outcomes in a cohort of patients with early-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy who underwent haemopoietic stem-cell gene therapy (HSC-GT). METHODS This is an ad-hoc analysis of data from an ongoing, non-randomised, open-label, single-arm phase 1/2 trial, in which we enrolled patients with a molecular and biochemical diagnosis of metachromatic leukodystrophy (presymptomatic late-infantile or early-juvenile disease or early-symptomatic early-juvenile disease) at the Paediatric Clinical Research Unit, Ospedale San Raffaele, in Milan. Trial participants received HSC-GT, which consisted of the infusion of autologous HSCs transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding ARSA cDNA, after exposure-targeted busulfan conditioning. The primary endpoints of the trial are safety (toxicity, absence of engraftment failure or delayed haematological reconstitution, and safety of lentiviral vector-tranduced cell infusion) and efficacy (improvement in Gross Motor Function Measure [GMFM] score relative to untreated historical controls, and ARSA activity, 24 months post-treatment) of HSC-GT. For this ad-hoc analysis, we assessed safety and efficacy outcomes in all patients who had received treatment and been followed up for at least 18 months post-treatment on June 1, 2015. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01560182. FINDINGS Between April, 2010, and February, 2013, we had enrolled nine children with a diagnosis of early-onset disease (six had late-infantile disease, two had early-juvenile disease, and one had early-onset disease that could not be definitively classified). At the time of analysis all children had survived, with a median follow-up of 36 months (range 18-54). The most commonly reported adverse events were cytopenia (reported in all patients) and mucositis of different grades of severity (in five of nine patients [grade 3 in four of five patients]). No serious adverse events related to the medicinal product were reported. Stable, sustained engraftment of gene-corrected HSCs was observed (a median of 60·4% [range 14·0-95·6] lentiviral vector-positive colony-forming cells across follow-up) and the engraftment level was stable during follow-up; engraftment determinants included the duration of absolute neutropenia and the vector copy number of the medicinal product. A progressive reconstitution of ARSA activity in circulating haemopoietic cells and in the cerebrospinal fluid was documented in all patients in association with a reduction of the storage material in peripheral nerve samples in six of seven patients. Eight patients, seven of whom received treatment when presymptomatic, had prevention of disease onset or halted disease progression as per clinical and instrumental assessment, compared with historical untreated control patients with early-onset disease. GMFM scores for six patients up to the last follow-up showed that gross motor performance was similar to that of normally developing children. The extent of benefit appeared to be influenced by the interval between HSC-GT and the expected time of disease onset. Treatment resulted in protection from CNS demyelination in eight patients and, in at least three patients, amelioration of peripheral nervous system abnormalities, with signs of remyelination at both sites. INTERPRETATION Our ad-hoc findings provide preliminary evidence of safety and therapeutic benefit of HSC-GT in patients with early-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy who received treatment in the presymptomatic or very early-symptomatic stage. The results of this trial will be reported when all 20 patients have achieved 3 years of follow-up. FUNDING Italian Telethon Foundation and GlaxoSmithKline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sessa
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Lorioli
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Pediatric Immunohematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Fumagalli
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Acquati
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Redaelli
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Baldoli
- Neuroradiology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Sabrina Canale
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ignazio D Lopez
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Morena
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Calabria
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Rossana Fiori
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Silvani
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Michela Gabaldo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Benedicenti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Gigliola Antonioli
- Pediatric Immunohematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Assanelli
- Pediatric Immunohematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Cicalese
- Pediatric Immunohematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ubaldo Del Carro
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Sabata Martino
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Eugenio Montini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Ciceri
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Roncarolo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Aiuti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Pediatric Immunohematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Biffi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Pediatric Immunohematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
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