ENPP1 in Blood and Bone: Skeletal and Soft Tissue Diseases Induced by ENPP1 Deficiency

The enzyme ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) codes for a type 2 transmembrane glycoprotein that hydrolyzes extracellular ATP to generate pyrophosphate (PPi) and adenosine monophosphate, thereby contributing to downstream purinergic signaling pathways. The clinical phenotypes induced by ENPP1 deficiency are seemingly contradictory and include early-onset osteoporosis in middle-aged adults and life-threatening vascular calcifications in the large arteries of infants with generalized arterial calcification of infancy. The progressive overmineralization of soft tissue and concurrent undermineralization of skeleton also occur in the general medical population, where it is referred to as paradoxical mineralization to highlight the confusing pathophysiology. This review summarizes the clinical presentation and pathophysiology of paradoxical mineralization unveiled by ENPP1 deficiency and the bench-to-bedside development of a novel ENPP1 biologics designed to treat mineralization disorders in the rare disease and general medical population.

A Reference Range for Plasma Levels of Inorganic Pyrophosphate in Children Using the ATP Sulfurylase Method

PURPOSE

Generalized arterial calcification of infancy, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets type 2, and hypophosphatasia are rare inherited disorders associated with altered plasma levels of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi). In this study, we aimed to establish a reference range for plasma PPi in the pediatric population, which would be essential to support its use as a biomarker in children with mineralization disorders.

METHODS

Plasma samples were collected from 200 children aged 1 day to 18 years who underwent blood testing for medical conditions not affecting plasma PPi levels. PPi was measured in proband plasma utilizing a validated adenosine triphosphate (ATP) sulfurylase method.

RESULTS

The analytical sensitivity of the ATP sulfurylase assay consisted of 0.15 to 10 µM PPi. Inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variability on identical samples were below 10%. The standard range of PPi in the blood plasma of children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years was calculated as 2.36 to 4.44 µM, with a median of 3.17 µM, with no difference between male and female probands. PPi plasma levels did not differ significantly in different pediatric age groups.

MAIN CONCLUSIONS

Our results yielded no noteworthy discrepancy to the reported standard range of plasma PPi in adults (2-5 µM). We propose the described ATP sulfurylase method as a diagnostic tool to measure PPi levels in plasma as a biomarker in the pediatric population.

Prospective phenotyping of long-term survivors of generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI)

PURPOSE

Generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI), characterized by vascular calcifications that are often fatal shortly after birth, is usually caused by deficiency of ENPP1. A small fraction of GACI cases result from deficiency of ABCC6, a membrane transporter. The natural history of GACI survivors has not been established in a prospective fashion.

METHODS

We performed deep phenotyping of 20 GACI survivors.

RESULTS

Sixteen of 20 subjects presented with arterial calcifications, but only 5 had residual involvement at the time of evaluation. Individuals with ENPP1 deficiency either had hypophosphatemic rickets or were predicted to develop it by 14 years of age; 14/16 had elevated intact FGF23 levels (iFGF23). Blood phosphate levels correlated inversely with iFGF23. For ENPP1-deficient individuals, the lifetime risk of cervical spine fusion was 25%, that of hearing loss was 75%, and the main morbidity in adults was related to enthesis calcification. Four ENPP1-deficient individuals manifested classic skin or retinal findings of PXE. We estimated the minimal incidence of ENPP1 deficiency at ~1 in 200,000 pregnancies.

CONCLUSION

GACI appears to be more common than previously thought, with an expanding spectrum of overlapping phenotypes. The relationships among decreased ENPP1, increased iFGF23, and rickets could inform future therapies.