Tandem mass spectrometry assay of ß-glucocerebrosidase activity in dried blood spots eliminates false positives detected in fluorescence assay.

Deficiency of ß-Glucocerebrosidase (GBA) activity causes Gaucher Disease (GD). GD can be diagnosed by measuring GBA activity (Beutler and Kuhl, 1990). In this study, we assayed dried blood spots from a cohort (n=528) enriched for GBA mutation carriers (n=78) and GD patients (n=18) using both the tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and fluorescence assays and their respective synthetic substrates. The MS/MS assay differentiated normal controls, which included GBA mutation carriers, from GD patients with no overlap. The fluorescence assay did not always differentiate normal controls including GBA mutation carriers from GD patients and false positives were observed. The MS/MS assay improved specificity compared to the fluorescence assay.

Sargramostim (rhu GM-CSF) Improves Survival of Non-Human Primates with Severe Bone Marrow Suppression after Acute, High-Dose, Whole-Body Irradiation.

Exposure to acute, high-dose, whole-body ionizing radiation results in bone marrow failure (hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome with resultant infection, bleeding, anemia, and increased risk of death). Sargramostim (yeast-derived rhu GM-CSF), a yeast-derived, molecularly cloned, hematopoietic growth factor and pleiotropic cytokine supports proliferation, differentiation, maturation and survival of cells of several myeloid lineages. We evaluated the efficacy of sargramostim in non-human primates (rhesus macaques) exposed to whole-body ionizing radiation at a 50-60% lethal dose. The primary end point was day 60 survival. Non-human primates received daily subcutaneous sargramostim (7 mcg/kg/day) or control. To reflect the anticipated setting of a nuclear or radiologic event, treatment began 48 h postirradiation, and non-human primates received only moderate supportive care (no whole blood transfusions or individualized antibiotics). Sargramostim significantly increased day 60 survival to 78% (95% confidence interval, 61-90%) vs. 42% (26-59%; P = 0.0018) in controls. Neutrophil, platelet and lymphocyte recovery rates were accelerated and infection rates decreased. Improved survival when sargramostim was started 48 h postirradiation, without use of intensive supportive care, suggests sargramostim may be effective in treating humans exposed to acute, high-dose whole-body, ionizing radiation in a scenario such as a mass casualty event.

Establishing Pompe Disease Newborn Screening: The Role of Industry.

When clinical trials for enzyme replacement therapy for Pompe disease commenced, a need for newborn screening (NBS) for Pompe disease was recognized. Two methods for NBS for Pompe disease by measuring acid α-glucosidase in dried blood spots on filter paper were developed in an international collaborative research effort led by Genzyme. Both methods were used successfully in NBS pilot programs to demonstrate the feasibility of NBS for Pompe disease. Since 2009, all babies born in Taiwan have been screened for Pompe disease. Pompe disease was added to the Recommended Uniform (Newborn) Screening Panel in the United States in 2015. NBS for Pompe disease is possible because of the unprecedented and selfless collaborations of countless international experts who shared their thoughts and data freely with the common goal of establishing NBS for Pompe disease expeditiously.

Multiplex enzyme assay screening of dried blood spots for lysosomal storage disorders by using tandem mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: Reports of the use of multiplex enzyme assay screening for Pompe disease, Fabry disease, Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick disease types A and B, and Krabbe disease have engendered interest in the use of this assay in newborn screening. We modified the assay for high-throughput use in screening laboratories. METHODS: We optimized enzyme reaction conditions and procedures for the assay, including the concentrations of substrate (S) and internal standard (IS), assay cocktail compositions, sample clean-up procedures, and mass spectrometer operation. The S and IS for each enzyme were premixed and bottled at an optimized molar ratio to simplify assay cocktail preparation. Using the new S:IS ratio, we validated the modified assay according to CLSI guidelines. Stability of the S, IS, and assay cocktails were investigated. Dried blood spots from 149 healthy adults, 100 newborns, and 60 patients with a lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) were tested using the modified assay. RESULTS: In our study, the median enzyme activity measured in adults was generally increased 2-3-fold compared to the original method, results indicating higher precision. In the multiplex format, each of the 5 modified enzyme assays enabled unambiguous differentiation between samples from healthy individuals (adults and newborns) and the corresponding disease-specific samples. CONCLUSIONS: The modified multiplex enzyme assay with premixed S and IS is appropriate for use in high-throughput screening laboratories.

Determination of psychosine concentration in dried blood spots from newborns that were identified via newborn screening to be at risk for Krabbe disease.

BACKGROUND: New York State has screened over 1.2 million newborns for Krabbe disease, and we identified 4 newborns with infantile Krabbe disease. In addition, 6 other newborns were identified with very low galactosylcerebrosidase (GALC) activity. Because these patients remain asymptomatic, we investigated whether psychosine levels could be a useful marker for disease. METHODS: HPLC-MS/MS methodology was used to determine the psychosine concentrations in dried blood spots (DBS) collected from the following cohorts: known Krabbe patients, screened babies that were determined to have infantile Krabbe disease, asymptomatic infants with low GALC activity, and normal controls. RESULTS: The psychosine concentrations from the known Krabbe patients ranged from 7 to 50 ng/ml. Newborns identified by screening who were confirmed with infantile Krabbe disease ranged from 23 to 73 ng/ml. Asymptomatic individuals with low GALC activity had concentrations ranging from 1.7 to 5.7 ng/ml. Concentrations in newborns with normal GALC activity were all <3 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The psychosine concentrations in DBS from confirmed infantile patients are at least four times higher than the asymptomatic newborns and nearly an order of magnitude greater than normal newborns. Further studies are needed to determine if psychosine can be used as a predictor of disease status/progression in screen positive newborns.

The effect of preparation, storage and shipping of dried blood spots on the activity of five lysosomal enzymes.

BACKGROUND: Fluorometric and tandem mass spectrometry assays can be used to measure lysosomal enzyme activities in dried blood spots (DBS). The effect of DBS preparation, storage and shipping was evaluated on the activities of acid α-glucosidase, acid α-galactosidase, acid ß-glucocerebrosidase, acid sphingomyelinase, and galactocerebrosidase. METHODS: Whole blood from normal donors was used to prepare DBS following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines and by several deviations. Some DBS were subjected to various treatments, storage and shipping conditions. The activity of 5 lysosomal enzymes (GAA, GLA, GBA, ASM, and GALC) was measured using tandem mass spectrometric and fluorometric (GAA only) assays with 2 distinct and commonly used synthetic substrates. RESULTS: Enzyme activities were strongly affected by the way DBS were prepared and stored. Exposure of DBS to elevated heat and humidity can destroy enzyme functions rapidly. DBS prepared from poorly mixed blood caused significant variation on enzyme activities. EDTA, but not heparin, as an anti-coagulant gave more precise results. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed the importance of proper and consistent DBS preparation and storage when screening for deficiencies of lysosomal enzymes.

Multiplex lysosomal enzyme activity assay on dried blood spots using tandem mass spectrometry.

Deficiencies in any of the 50 degradative enzymes found in lysosomes results in the accumulation of undegraded material and subsequently cellular dysfunction. Early identification of deficiencies before irreversible organ and tissue damages occur leads to better clinical outcomes. In the method which follows, lysosomal alpha-glucosidase, alpha-galactosidase, beta-glucocerebrosidase, acid sphingomyelinase, and galactocerebrosidase are extracted from dried blood spots and incubated individually with an enzyme-specific cocktail containing the corresponding substrate and internal standard. Each enzyme cocktail is prepared using commercially available mixture of substrate and internal standard at the predetermined optimized molar ratio. After incubation, the enzymatic reactions are quenched using an ethyl acetate/methanol solution and all five enzyme solutions are combined. The mixtures of the reaction products are prepared using liquid-liquid and solid-phase extractions and quantified simultaneously using selected ion monitoring on LC-MS-MS system.

How well does urinary lyso-Gb3 function as a biomarker in Fabry disease?

BACKGROUND: Fabry disease is characterized by accumulation of glycosphingolipids, such as globotriaosylceramide (Gb(3)), in many tissues and body fluids. A novel plasma biomarker, globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb(3)), is increased in patients with the disease. Until now, lyso-Gb(3) was not detectable in urine, possibly because of the presence of interfering compounds. METHODS: We undertook to: 1) characterize lyso-Gb(3) in urine; 2) develop a method to quantitate urinary lyso-Gb(3) by mass spectrometry; 3) evaluate urinary lyso-Gb(3) as a potential biomarker for Fabry disease; and 4) determine whether lyso-Gb(3) is an inhibitor of α-galactosidase A activity. We analyzed urinary lyso-Gb(3) from 83 Fabry patients and 77 healthy age-matched controls. RESULTS: The intraday and interday bias and precision of the method were <15%. Increases in lyso-Gb(3)/creatinine correlated with the concentrations of Gb(3) (r(2)=0.43), type of mutations (p=0.0006), gender (p<0.0001) and enzyme replacement therapy status (p=0.0012). Urine from healthy controls contained no detectable lyso-Gb(3). Lyso-Gb(3) did not inhibit GLA activity in dried blood spots. Increased urinary excretion of lyso-Gb(3) of Fabry patients correlated well with a number of indicators of disease severity. CONCLUSION: Lyso-Gb(3) is a reliable independent biomarker for clinically important characteristics of Fabry disease.