Protein misfolding diseases: Prospects of pharmacological treatment.

Protein misfolding has been linked to numerous inherited diseases. Loss- and gain-of-function mutations (common features of genetic diseases) may cause the destabilization of proteins, leading to alterations in their properties and/or cellular location, resulting in their incorrect functioning. Misfolded proteins can, however, be rescued via the use of proteostasis regulators and/or pharmacological chaperones, suggesting that treatments with small molecules might be developed for a range of genetic diseases. This work describes the potential of these small molecules in this respect, including for the treatment of congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG) due to phosphomannomutase 2 deficiency (PMM2-CDG).

Tyrosinemia type II: Mutation update, 11 novel mutations and description of 5 independent subjects with a novel founder mutation.

BACKGROUND: Tyrosinemia type II, also known as Richner-Hanhart Syndrome, is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disorder, caused by mutations in the gene encoding hepatic cytosolic tyrosine aminotransferase, leading to the accumulation of tyrosine and its metabolites which cause ocular and skin lesions, that may be accompanied by neurological manifestations, mostly intellectual disability. AIMS: To update disease-causing mutations and current clinical knowledge of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genetic and clinical information were obtained from a collection of both unreported and previously reported cases. RESULTS: We report 106 families, represented by 143 individuals, carrying a total of 36 genetic variants, 11 of them not previously known to be associated with the disease. Variants include 3 large deletions, 21 non-synonymous and 5 nonsense amino-acid changes, 5 frameshifts and 2 splice variants. We also report 5 patients from Gran Canaria, representing the largest known group of unrelated families sharing the same P406L mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Data analysis did not reveal a genotype-phenotype correlation, but stressed the need of early diagnosis: All patients improved the oculocutaneous lesions after dietary treatment but neurological symptoms prevailed. The discovery of founder mutations in isolated populations, and the benefits of early intervention, should increase diagnostic awareness in newborns.

Antisense-mediated therapeutic pseudoexon skipping in TMEM165-CDG.

Deficiencies in glycosyltransferases, glycosidases or nucleotide-sugar transporters involved in protein glycosylation lead to congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG), a group of genetic diseases mostly showing multisystem phenotype. Despite recent advances in the biochemical and molecular knowledge of these diseases, no effective therapy exists for most. Efforts are now being directed toward therapies based on identifying new targets, which would allow to treat specific patients in a personalized way. This work presents proof-of concept for the antisense RNA rescue of the Golgi-resident protein TMEM165, a gene involved in a new type of CDG with a characteristic skeletal phenotype. Using a functional in vitro splicing assay based on minigenes, it was found that the deep intronic change c.792+182G>A is responsible for the insertion of an aberrant exon, corresponding to an intronic sequence. Antisense morpholino oligonucleotide therapy targeted toward TMEM165 mRNA recovered normal protein levels in the Golgi apparatus of patient-derived fibroblasts. This work expands the application of antisense oligonucleotide-mediated pseudoexon skipping to the treatment of a Golgi-resident protein, and opens up a promising treatment option for this specific TMEM165-CDG.

Functional analysis and in vitro correction of splicing FAH mutations causing tyrosinemia type I.

Hereditary tyrosinemia type I (HT1) is a rare disease caused by a deficiency of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) in the tyrosine catabolic pathway, resulting mainly in hepatic alterations due to accumulation of the toxic metabolites fumarylacetoacetate, maleylacetoacetate and succinylacetone. We have characterized using minigenes four splicing mutations affecting exonic or intronic nucleotides of the FAH gene identified in two HT1 patients. Two of the mutations are novel, c.82-1G>A and c.913G>C and the other two have been previously associated with a splicing defect (c.836A>G and c.1062+5G>A). All mutations were confirmed to affect splicing in minigenes, resulting in exon skipping or activation of a cryptic splice site. We have analyzed the effect of different compounds known to modulate splicing (valproic acid, phenyl butyrate, M344, EIPA, and resveratrol) and the overexpression of splice factors of the SR protein family on the transcriptional profile of the mutant minigenes. For the c.836A>G mutation, a partial recovery of the correctly spliced transcript was observed. These results confirm the relevance of performing functional studies for mutations potentially affecting the splicing process and open the possibility of supplementary therapeutic approaches to diseases caused by splicing defects.

Mild clinical and biochemical phenotype in two patients with PMM2-CDG (congenital disorder of glycosylation Ia).

Phosphomannomutase 2 deficiency (PMM2-CDG) patients may present as mild phenotypes, with the cerebellum frequently involved. In those cases, false-negative results in screening may occur when applying conventional biochemical procedures. Our aim was to report two patients with a diagnosis of PMM2-CDG presenting with mild clinical phenotype. Patient 1-at 9 months of age, she presented with just psychomotor delay, tremor, hypotonia, and slight lipodystrophy. Patient 2-she presented at 8 months of age with psychomotor delay, hand stereotypes, hypotonia, convergent bilateral strabismus, and tremor but no lipodystrophy. Routine biochemical parameters including blood count, clotting factors, proteins, and thyroid hormone were normal in both cases. Cranial MRI evidenced mild cerebellar atrophy with moderate vermis hypoplasia. In case 1, sialotransferrin pattern showed very slightly increased disialotransferrin with no asialotransferrin, and in case 2, the transferrin pattern was impaired in the first study but nearly normal in the second. Nevertheless, in all the samples, quantification of the patterns obtained by capillary zone electrophoresis analysis gave results out of the control range. High residual PMM2 activity was observed in both cases and the genetic analysis showed that patient 1 was heterozygous for c.722G>C (p.C241S) and c.368G>A (p.R123Q) mutations, and patient 2 showed the c.722G>C and the c.470T>C (p.F157S) mutations in the PMM2 gene. We would like to stress the importance of the use of sensitive semiquantitative methods of screening for CDG in order to achieve early identification of patients with mild phenotypes. Intentional tremor was an atypical but remarkable clinical feature in both cases, and the global cerebellar atrophy with vermis hypoplasia reinforced the early clinical suspicion of a PMM2-CDG disease.

Study of paediatric patients with the clinical and biochemical phenotype of glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) deficiency syndrome may present a range of phenotypes, including epilepsy, intellectual disability, and movement disorders. The majority of patients present low CSF glucose levels and/or defects in the SLC2A1 gene; however, some patients do not present low CSF glucose or SLC2A1 mutations, and may have other mutations in other genes with compatible phenotypes. AIMS: We describe the clinical, biochemical, and genetic characteristics of the disease and perform a univariate analysis of a group of patients with clinical and biochemical phenotype of GLUT1 deficiency syndrome, with or without SLC2A1 mutations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 13 patients meeting clinical and biochemical criteria for GLUT1 deficiency syndrome. SLC2A1 sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification were performed; exome sequencing was performed for patients with negative results. RESULTS: Six patients presented the classic phenotype; 2 paroxysmal dyskinesia, 2 complex movement disorders, 2 early-onset absence seizures, and one presented drug-resistant childhood absence epilepsy. Six patients were positive for SLC2A1 mutations; in the other 5, another genetic defect was identified. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups for age of onset, clinical presentation, microcephaly, intellectual disability, or response to ketogenic diet. Patients with SLC2A1 mutations presented more clinical changes in relation to diet (66.7%, vs 28.6% in the SLC2A1-negative group) and greater persistence of motor symptoms (66% vs 28.6%); these differences were not statistically significant. Significant differences were observed for CSF glucose level (34.5 vs 46mg/dL, P=.04) and CSF/serum glucose ratio (0.4 vs 0.48, P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: GLUT1 deficiency syndrome may be caused by mutations to genes other than SLC2A1 in patients with compatible phenotype, low CSF glucose level, and good response to the ketogenic diet.

Proteostasis regulators as potential rescuers of PMM2 activity.

Phosphomannomutase 2 deficiency (PMM2-CDG) is the most common N-glycosylation disorder. To date there is no treatment. Following the identification of a number of destabilizing pathogenic variants, our group suggested PMM2-CDG to be a conformational disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible use of proteostasis network regulators to increase the stability, and subsequently the enzymatic activity, of misfolded PMM2 mutant proteins. Patient-derived fibroblasts transduced with their own PMM2 folding or oligomerization variants were treated with different concentrations of the proteostasis regulators celastrol or MG132. Celastrol treatment led to a significant increase in mutant PMM2 protein concentration and activity, while MG132 had a small effect on protein concentration only. The increase in enzymatic activity with celastrol correlated with an increase in the transcriptional and proteome levels of the heat shock proteins Hsp90 and Hsp70. The use of specific Hsp70 or Hsp90 inhibitors showed the positive effect of celastrol on PMM2 stability and activity to occur through Hsp90-driven modulation of the proteostasis network. The synergistic effect of celastrol and a previously described pharmacological chaperone was also examined, and a mutation-dependent synergistic effect on PMM2 activity was noted. These results provide proof-of-concept regarding the potential treatment of PMM2-CDG by proteostasis regulators, either alone or in combination with pharmacological chaperones.

Study of paediatric patients with the clinical and biochemical phenotype of glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome. / Estudio de pacientes pediátricos con fenotipo clínico y bioquímico de síndrome de déficit de transportador de glucosa cerebral (GLUT-1).

INTRODUCTION: Glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) deficiency syndrome may present a range of phenotypes, including epilepsy, intellectual disability, and movement disorders. The majority of patients present low CSF glucose levels and/or defects in the SLC2A1 gene; however, some patients do not present low CSF glucose or SLC2A1 mutations, and may have other mutations in other genes with compatible phenotypes. AIMS: We describe the clinical, biochemical, and genetic characteristics of the disease and perform a univariate analysis of a group of patients with clinical and biochemical phenotype of GLUT1 deficiency syndrome, with or without SLC2A1 mutations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 13 patients meeting clinical and biochemical criteria for GLUT1 deficiency syndrome. SLC2A1 sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification were performed; exome sequencing was performed for patients with negative results. RESULTS: Six patients presented the classic phenotype; 2 paroxysmal dyskinesia, 2 complex movement disorders, 2 early-onset absence seizures, and one presented drug-resistant childhood absence epilepsy. Six patients were positive for SLC2A1 mutations; in the other 5, another genetic defect was identified. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups for age of onset, clinical presentation, microcephaly, intellectual disability, or response to ketogenic diet. Patients with SLC2A1 mutations presented more clinical changes in relation to diet (66.7% vs. 28.6% in the SLC2A1-negative group) and greater persistence of motor symptoms (66% vs. 28.6%); these differences were not statistically significant. Significant differences were observed for CSF glucose level (34.5 vs. 46mg/dL, P=.04) and CSF/serum glucose ratio (0.4 vs. 0.48, P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: GLUT1 deficiency syndrome may be caused by mutations to genes other than SLC2A1 in patients with compatible phenotype, low CSF glucose level, and good response to the ketogenic diet.

Methylmalonic acidaemia: examination of genotype and biochemical data in 32 patients belonging to mut, cblA or cblB complementation group.

Methylmalonic acidaemia (MMA) is a genetic disorder caused by defects in methylmalonyl-CoA mutase or in any of the different proteins involved in the synthesis of adenosylcobalamin. The aim of this work was to examine the biochemical and clinical phenotype of 32 MMA patients according to their genotype, and to study the mutant mRNA stability by real-time PCR analysis. Using cellular and biochemical methods, we classified our patient cohort as having the MMA forms mut (n = 19), cblA (n = 9) and cblB (n = 4). All the mut (0) and some of the cblB patients had the most severe clinical and biochemical manifestations, displaying non-inducible propionate incorporation in the presence of hydroxocobalamin (OHCbl) in vitro and high plasma odd-numbered long-chain fatty acid (OLCFA) concentrations under dietary therapy. In contrast, mut (-) and cblA patients exhibited a milder phenotype with propionate incorporation enhanced by OHCbl and normal OLCFA levels under dietary therapy. No missense mutations identified in the MUT gene, including mut (0) and mut (-) changes, affected mRNA stability. A new sequence variation (c.562G>C) in the MMAA gene was identified. Most of the cblA patients carried premature termination codons (PTC) in both alleles. Interestingly, the transcripts containing the PTC mutations were insensitive to nonsense-mediated decay (NMD).

Four Years' Experience in the Diagnosis of Very Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Infants Detected in Three Spanish Newborn Screening Centers.

Identification of very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency is possible in the expanded newborn screening (NBS) due to the increase in tetradecenoylcarnitine (C14:1) and in the C14:1/C2, C14:1/C16, C14:1/C12:1 ratios detected in dried blood spots. Nevertheless, different confirmatory tests must be performed to confirm the final diagnosis. We have revised the NBS results and the results of the confirmatory tests (plasma acylcarnitine profiles, molecular findings, and lymphocytes VLCAD activity) for 36 cases detected in three Spanish NBS centers during 4 years, correlating these with the clinical outcome and treatment. Our aim was to distinguish unambiguously true cases from disease carriers in order to obtain useful diagnostic information for clinicians that can be applied in the follow-up of neonates identified by NBS.Increases in C14:1 and of the different ratios, the presence of two pathogenic mutations, and deficient enzyme activity in lymphocytes (<12% of the intra-assay control) identified 12 true-positive cases. These cases were given nutritional therapy and all of them are asymptomatic, except one. Seventeen individuals were considered disease carriers based on the mild increase in plasma C14:1, in conjunction with the presence of only one mutation and/or intermediate residual activity (18-57%). In addition, seven cases were classified as false positives, with normal biochemical parameters and no mutations in the exonic region of ACADVL. All these carriers and the false positive cases remained asymptomatic. The combined evaluation of the acylcarnitine profiles, genetic results, and residual enzyme activities have proven useful to definitively classify individuals with suspected VLCAD deficiency into true-positive cases and carriers, and to decide which cases need treatment.

Genetic heterogeneity in propionic acidemia patients with alpha-subunit defects. Identification of five novel mutations, one of them causing instability of the protein.

The inherited metabolic disease propionic acidemia (PA) can result from mutations in either of the genes PCCA or PCCB, which encode the alpha and beta subunits, respectively, of the mitochondrial enzyme propionyl CoA-carboxylase. In this work we have analyzed the molecular basis of PCCA gene defects, studying mRNA levels and identifying putative disease causing mutations. A total of 10 different mutations, none predominant, are present in a sample of 24 mutant alleles studied. Five novel mutations are reported here for the first time. A neutral polymorphism and a variant allele present in the general population were also detected. To examine the effect of a point mutation (M348K) involving a highly conserved residue, we have carried out in vitro expression of normal and mutant PCCA cDNA and analyzed the mitochondrial import and stability of the resulting proteins. Both wild-type and mutant proteins were imported into mitochondria and processed into the mature form with similar efficiency, but the mature mutant M348K protein decayed more rapidly than did the wild-type, indicating a reduced stability, which is probably the disease-causing mechanism.

Functional analysis of PCCB mutations causing propionic acidemia based on expression studies in deficient human skin fibroblasts.

Propionic acidemia (PA) is a recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC), a dodecameric enzyme composed of two different proteins alpha-PCC and beta-PCC, nuclear encoded by the PCCA and PCCB genes, respectively. Mutations in either gene cause PA and to date, up to 47 different allelic variations in the PCCB gene have been identified in different populations. In this work, we describe the expression studies of 18 PCCB sequence changes in order to elucidate their functional consequences. We have used a PCCB-deficient transformed fibroblast cell line to target the wild-type and mutant proteins to their physiological situation, analysing the effect of the mutations on PCC activity and protein stability. Of the 18 mutant proteins tested for activity, those carrying the L17M and A497V substitutions showed an activity similar to the wild-type one, which proves that these changes do not have any effect on protein activity. The other 16 mutant proteins exhibited two different functional behaviours, 3 retained substantial activity (K218R, R410W and N536D), and the remaining 13 proteins showed null or very low activity. Western blot analysis demonstrated instability only for the L519P, R512C and G112D mutant proteins. We have proved the pathogenicity of R67S, R165Q and G112D mutation in PCCB gene, expressed for the first time in this work. The information derived from the expression analysis is discussed in the phenotype and genotype context in order to improve the knowledge of this complex disease.

Splicing mutations, mainly IVS6-1(G>T), account for 70% of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) gene alterations, including 7 novel mutations, in a survey of 29 tyrosinemia type I patients.

Hereditary tyrosinemia type I (HTI) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by a deficiency in fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) activity. In this work, the FAH genotype was established in a group of 29 HTI patients, most of them from the Mediterranean area. We identified seven novel mutations-IVS8-1(G>A, IVS10-2(A>T), 938delC, E6/I6del26, W78X, Q328X, and G343W-and two previously described mutations-IVS6-1(G>T) and IVS12+5(G>A). Fully 92.8% of the patients were carriers of at least one splice site mutation, with IVS6-1(G>T) accounting for 58.9% of the total number of alleles. The splice mutation group of patients showed heterogeneous phenotypic patterns ranging from acute forms with severe liver malfunction to chronic forms with renal manifestations and slow progressive hepatic alterations. Qualitative FAH cDNA expression was the same in all IVS6-1(G>T) homozygous patients regardless of their clinical picture. One patient with a heterozygous combination of a nonsense (Q328X) and a frameshift (938delC) mutation showed an atypical clinical picture of hypotonia and repeated infections. Despite the high prevalence of IVS12+5(G>A) in the northwestern European population, we found only two patients with this mutation in our group.

Potential relationship between genotype and clinical outcome in propionic acidaemia patients.

Propionic acidaemia (PA) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in either of the PCCA or PCCB genes which encode the alpha and beta subunits, respectively, of the mitochondrial enzyme propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC). In this work we have examined the biochemical findings and clinical outcome of 37 Spanish PA patients in relation to the mutations found in both PCCA and PCCB genes. We have detected 27 early-onset and 101 late-onset cases, showing remarkably similar biochemical features without relation to either the age of onset of the disease or the defective gene they have. Twenty-one of the patients have so far survived and three of them, now adolescents, present normal development. Different biochemical procedures allowed us to identify the defective gene in 9 PCCA deficient and 28 PCCB deficient patients. Nine putative disease-causing mutations accounting for 77.7% of mutant alleles were identified among PCCA deficient patients, each one carrying a unique genotypic combination. Of PCCB mutant alleles 98% were characterised. Four common mutations (ins/del, E168K, 1170insT and A497V) were found in 38/52 mutant chromosomes investigated, whereas the remainder of the alleles harbour 12 other different mutations. By examining the mutations identified both in PCCA and PCCB genes and the clinical evolution of patients, we have found a good correlation between certain mutations which can be considered as null with a severe phenotype, while certain missense mutations tend to be related to the late and mild forms of the disease. Expression studies, particularly of the missense mutations identified are necessary but other genetic and environmental factors probably contribute to the phenotypic variability observed in PA.

Biotinidase deficiency: result of treatment with biotin from age 12 years.

A boy with severe symptoms of biotinidase deficiency diagnosed at the age of 12 years showed a remarkable improvement of his neurological picture and normalization of brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities when prescribed oral biotin.

[Delayed onset holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency with normal pyruvate carboxylase activity]. / Deficiencia de holocarboxilasa sintetasa de presentación tardía con actividad piruvato carboxilasa normal.

We report a case of holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency with normal pyruvate carboxylase activity in the lymphocytes of an 8 year-old girl with clinical toxicity without the classic dermatological involvement. The identification of three nucleotide changes in the holocarboxylase synthetase (HLCS) gene, only one of them described as a pathogenic mutation could be related to a slight variant of the disease that would explain the unusual presentation beyond the age of infant. Treatment with biotin at 40 mg/day with protein controlled diet allows normal physical growth and psychomotor development for their age.

Thirteen years experience with selective screening for disorders in purine and pyrimidine metabolism.

Purine and pyrimidine disorders represent a heterogeneous group with variable clinical symptoms and low prevalence rate. In the last thirteen years, we have studied urine/plasma specimens from about 1600 patients and we have identified 35 patients: eight patients with adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency, eight patients with hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency, one patient with purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency, ten patients with xanthine dehydrogenase deficiency, six patients with molybdenum cofactor deficiency and two patients with dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency. Despite low incidence of these diseases, our findings highlight the importance of including the purine and pyrimidine analysis in the selective screening for inborn errors of metabolism in specialized laboratories, where amino acid and organic acid disorders are simultaneously investigated.

Infantile parkinsonism and GABAergic hypotransmission in a patient with pyruvate carboxylase deficiency.

Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency is a rare metabolic disorder, with three different phenotypes. We aim to report the case of a newborn presenting the severe neonatal form of this deficiency (the B or "French" phenotype, hypokinesia and rigidity being the main features) and the results of the study of classic neurotransmitters involved in movement control. Hyperdopaminergic transmission (both in the cerebrospinal fluid and in the substantia nigra) and hypoGABAergic transmission (in the substantia nigra) were found. Both gamma-aminobutyric acid and dopamine markers were found coexisting in individual neurons of the substantia nigra. This is the first time this phenomenon has been reported in the literature. We discuss the possible role of GABAergic deficiency, its interaction with other neurotransmitters and its implication in neurotransmitter homeostasis. A better comprehension of that field would increase understanding of the pathophysiology of neurological symptoms and neurotransmitter plasticity.

Nutritional and Pharmacological Management during Chemotherapy in a Patient with Propionic Acidaemia and Rhabdomyosarcoma Botryoides.

We present the nutritional and pharmacological management of a 2-year-old girl with a severe form of propionic acidaemia and a genitourinary embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. This association has not been described before, nor the utilization of chemotherapy in patients with propionic acidaemia.The patient is a girl with neonatal onset of propionic acidaemia, homozygous for the c.2041-2924del3889 mutation in PCCA gene. At 23 months of age she was diagnosed with genitourinary embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Conservative surgery, brachytherapy and nine cycles of chemotherapy with iphosphamide, vincristine and actinomycin were recommended by oncologists. Due to the possibility that the child could present decompensations, we elaborated three different courses of treatment: when the patient was stable (treatment 1), intermittent bolus feeding through gastrostomy, containing 70 kcal/kg/day and 1.4 g/kg/day of total protein (0.6 g/kg/day of natural protein and 0.8 g/kg/day of amino acid-based formula) was prescribed; on the chemotherapy-days (treatment 2), diet consisted on continuous feeding, with the same energy and amino acid-based formula but half of natural protein intake; in case of decompensation (treatment 3), we increased by 10% the energy intake, and completely stopped natural protein in the diet but maintaining the amino acid-based formula. On chemotherapy- days carnitine was increased from 100 mg/kg/day to 150 mg/kg/day, and N-carbamylglutamate was added.Through the 7 months with chemotherapy the patient did not suffer decompensations, while she maintained good nutritional status.Enteral continuous feeding by gastrostomy, amino acid-based formula, and preventive use of N-carbamylglutamate during chemotherapy-days are the principal measures we propose in these situations.