Bone marrow transplantation in newborn rats with mucopolysaccharidosis type VI: biochemical, pathological, and clinical findings.

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI) is the lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficient activity of arylsulfatase B (ASB). In this study, we evaluated bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for the treatment of MPS VI and the effects of irradiation on the survival and engraftment of bone marrow-transplanted neonatal rats. METHODS: One- to 2-day-old MPS VI rats were injected with normal bone marrow after irradiation with 200, 400, or 800 cGy. Ninety percent of the animals receiving a single dose of 200 cGy (n=30) survived the procedure, whereas irradiation with 400 cGy (n=23) or 800 cGy (n=12) resulted in significant mortality (78% and 100%, respectively). Engraftment was monitored by determining ASB activities in peripheral white blood cells and by Y chromosome in situ hybridization analysis. Fifty-two percent of the animals from the 200-cGy group engrafted for up to 8 months after BMT; among the five animals that survived the 400-cGy dose, all engrafted. In comparison, only 20% of nonirradiated animals engrafted at low levels. Of the 24 engrafted animals that were monitored for 8 months after BMT, clinical and/or radiographic improvements were noted in only one (BMT animal 3). Enzymatic analysis revealed that the ASB activities in the reticuloendothelial organs of this animal, as well as two other engrafted but clinically unimproved animals (BMT animals 1 and 2), were normal or near normal; correspondingly, the glycosaminoglycan levels in these organs were significantly reduced. Consistent with the clinical and biochemical observations, light and electron microscopic findings were more improved in BMT animal 3 as compared with BMT animals 1 and 2, although a reduction of storage was evident in each of these transplant recipients, particularly in the trachea and aorta, two tissues that are characteristic sites of pathology in human patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that BMT in newborn MPS VI patients may prevent many of the pathological and clinical findings in this disorder, but is likely to have very limited and unpredictable effects on the skeletal abnormalities.

Morphology of leukocytes from cats affected with alpha-mannosidosis and mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI).

The morphology and ultrastructure of circulating white blood cells from six Persian and from five Russian Blue/Siamese cats deficient in lysosomal activity of alpha-mannosidase and arylsulfatase B, respectively, were studied and compared to cells from corresponding normal and carrier cats. In cats with mannosidosis, light microscopic examination revealed vacuoles in lymphocytes and monocytes, whereas electron microscopic studies demonstrated additional vacuoles in neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. In cats with mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI), vacuoles containing metachromatic granules were observed in lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes. Ultrastructural studies of these cells identified the accumulation of fibrillar material, which often was associated with lamellated membrane structures.

[Activity of serum arylsulfatase B in nasal allergy patients].

Although the arylsulfatase B has been reported to inactivate slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) in vitro there has not been studied about the relation between this enzyme and nasal allergy in vivo. The present study was done to examine the serum level of arylsulfatase B in 73 nasal allergy patients and 13 normal controls. Serum arylsulfatase activity was quantified by measurement of the hydrolysis product (p-nitrocatechol) generated by the interaction of this enzyme and a substrate (p-nitrocatechol sulfate, Sigma). The results are summarised as follows; 1. Arylsulfatase B activity is significantly elevated in sera of nasal allergy patients than in that of normal subjects. 2. There are no correlation between the enzyme activity and the number of peripheral blood eosinophiles. 3. There is tendency the severe the nasal obstruction, the lower the level of the enzyme activity.

[Arylsulfatase activity of asthmatic children].

Human eosinophil arylsulfatase (AS) is known to inactivate a slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A). Arylsulfatase A (AS-A) and arylsulfatase B (AS-B) activity was assayed by a modification of the method of Inoue using chromatography, and peripheral eosinophil cell counts were obtained to observe the circadian rhythm of 6 healthy controls and 7 children with asthma. There was no significant diurnal variation in AS between the two groups. Eosinophil counts of both groups were lower in the morning and higher at night. Theophylline and beta 2 stimulants did not affect these activities significantly. Forty asthmatic children were selected to evaluate AS activity and eosinophil counts during and after attacks. AS-B activity was significantly higher in children during attacks than at other times, 5.70 +/- 2.00 vs. 3.74 +/- 0.66 4 MUnmol/ml/2hr (p less than 0.05). This result was more evident within 24 hours of the attack (p less than 0.01). Eosinophil counts were significantly lower during attack, and there was a negative correlation between the eosinophil counts and AS-B activity. AS-B activity in mild asthmatic children was greater than in severe cases. A significant rise in AS-B was seen in EIB negative asthmatics (p less than 0.01), but no remarkable change was seen in either AS-A or AS-B in the EIB positive group. The data suggest that higher AS-B activity during asthma attacks could inactivate SRS-A and modulate allergic inflammatory reaction.

Processing enzymes acting on carbohydrate moiety of lysosomal hydrolases in leukemic cells: elevated activity of N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase.

We previously demonstrated that an acidic variant form of lysosomal arylsulfatase B accumulated in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells was highly phosphorylated at its carbohydrate moiety (Uehara Y, et al, Cancer Res 43:5618, 1983). Since lysosomal hydrolases including the sulfatase underwent the posttranslational phosphorylation processing at the carbohydrate moiety, we investigated two enzymes acting on the processing in peripheral leukocytes from leukemia patients. The activity level of the first enzyme in the processing, an N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase to form phosphodiester at the carbohydrates, was significantly higher in CML cells than in normal control. The transferase level in CML cells was also higher compared with that in normal bone marrow cells, which include myeloid progenitor cells. However, the activity of the second processing enzyme, a phosphodiester glycosidase that converts a phosphodiester to a phosphomonoester, showed no consistent change in CML cells. Thus, increment of the sulfatase variant containing phosphomonoesters and diesters in CML cells is most probably associated with elevated activities of the phosphotransferase. In two cases of CML in blastic crisis and a case of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), activity of the processing enzyme was considerably decreased concomitant with reduction of peripheral blastic cells by chemotherapy.

Lysosomal arylsulfatases A and B from horse blood leukocytes: purification and physico-chemical properties.

Lysosomal arylsulfatases A and B (aryl-sulfate sulfohydrolases, EC 3.1.6.1) from horse leukocytes were purified about 680-fold and 70-fold, respectively, starting from a crude extract of the azurophil and specific granules of leukocytes, by affinity, ion exchange, and gel filtration chromatography. Purified arylsulfatase A displayed anomalous kinetics, a pH optimum at 5.2, an isoelectric point at 4.3, and a Km value for p-nitrocatechol sulfate (pNCS) of 0.37 mM. This enzyme was found to exist in two association states depending on pH: a high molecular weight form at pH 5.0 and a low molecular weight form at pH 7.5. Arylsulfatase B displayed normal kinetics, a pH optimum at 5.8, two isoelectric points at pH 8.6 and 8.9, and a Km value for pNCS of 3.38 mM. The thermostability of the two enzymes was different: arylsulfatase B was found to be more stable than arylsulfatase A. Arylsulfatase A was inhibited by sulfate, sulfite, silver, magnesium, manganese and calcium ions and arylsulfatase B by chloride, sulfate, sulfite and silver ions.

[Hypereosinophilias of the blood. I. Eosinophilic granulocytes]. / Le ipereosinofilie del sangue. Nota I. Il granulocita eosinofilo.

A knowledge of eosinophil granulocytes is indispensable for the study of hypereosinophilia. For this reason, the most recent findings relating to eosinophil morphology, production/regulation mechanism, and function are reported. Particular attention is given to enzyme populations, local control mechanisms and eosinophil cell surface receptors. Among the various enzymes present in the eosinophil, major basic protein (MBP), with its capacity to damage the cells of many organs, plays an important part; other enzymes include eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), arylsulphatase B, phospholipase D, histaminase and cationic proteins (ECP). Factors influencing eosinophil tissue concentrations and mode of action are considered. Recent findings agree on the role of eosinophils in immunological reactions and parasitic infestations: eosinophil plays a part in an immunological physiopathological sequence: it may, act as a killer cell with selective action against invading parasites, or it may be an immune modulator, anti-inflammatory cell able to surround inflammatory reactions and prevent them from spreading.

Expression of arylsulfatase B variant from leukocytes in chronic myelogenous leukemia related to chemotherapy.

Lysosomal arylsulfatase B of human leukocytes consisted of two forms; a basic form (B) and a variant form (B1) which is phosphorylated at the carbohydrate chains of the B form (Uehara, Y., Gasa, S., Makita, A., Sakurada, K., and Miyazaki, T. (1983) Cancer Res. 43, 5618-5622). The amounts of the variant form relative to the basic form were considerably increased in leukocytes of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The present communication demonstrates that, upon chemotherapy of the patients with CML, degree of phosphorylation as well as the relative amounts of the phosphorylated variant form of CML leukocytes are markedly decreased concomitantly with an increase of the basic, less phosphorylated form. This effect of chemotherapy on the variant form preceded to clinical improvement of the CML patients, suggesting that the relative amount of the phosphorylated enzyme will be a potential prognostic indicator for the therapeutic effect of CML.

Bone-marrow transplantation in the Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type VI). Biochemical and clinical status 24 months after transplantation.

A 13-year-old girl with the severe form of the Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI, arylsulfatase B deficiency) has had successful reconstitution with bone marrow from her HLA-MLC-matched sister who had normal arylsulfatase B activity. Full engraftment has been present for 24 months. The following biochemical and clinical changes have occurred: arylsulfatase B activity in peripheral lymphocytes and granulocytes increased to normal levels, and the activity in serial liver-biopsy specimens increased from about 3 per cent of the mean normal level 43 days after transplantation to about 16 per cent at 600 days. Urinary excretion of acid mucopolysaccharide decreased. Ultrastructural evidence of accumulated dermatan sulfate was no longer detectable in bone-marrow cells; in peripheral-blood lymphocytes, granulocytes, or platelets; or in Ito cells of liver. Twenty-four months after engraftment, hepatosplenomegaly was substantially decreased and cardiopulmonary function was normal. Visual acuity and joint mobility were also improved. The patient returned to school and continued to perform well in academic studies. Thus, bone-marrow transplantation provided a source of enzymatically normal cells, which have altered the metabolic and clinical course of the disease.

Correction of feline arylsulphatase B deficiency (mucopolysaccharidosis VI) by bone marrow transplantation.

Feline and human mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI or Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome) are inherited autosomal recessive deficiencies of lysosomal enzyme arylsulphatase B. Affected cats and children exhibit lesions caused by incompetent degradation, retinal atrophy and excessive urinary excretion of dermatan facial dysmorphia, corneal stromal opacities, leukocyte granulation, retinal atrophy and excessive urinary excretion of dermatan sulphate--and usually die before adulthood. Most attempts to treat humans affected with MPS VI or other mucopolysaccharidoses have been ineffective or logistically prohibitive, but allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) offers promise for cure of certain inborn errors of metabolism. Engraftment of normal donor marrow may endow the enzyme-deficient recipient with a continuous source of enzyme-competent blood cells and tissue macrophages to facilitate degradation of stored substrate and to prevent genesis of further malformations. To test this hypothesis, we performed allogeneic BMT in a 2-year-old male Siamese cat with advanced MPS VI. Here we describe BMT-induced correction of this hereditary enzyme deficiency.

Lysosomal arylsulfatases of human leukocytes: increment of phosphorylated B variants in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Lysosomal arylsulfatases A and B of peripheral leukocytes from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and from healthy subjects were studied. Two enzyme activities of leukemia cells were significantly higher than those of cells from healthy subjects, irrespective of total and differential counts of leukemic cells. Upon anion-exchange chromatography, the arylsulfatases of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells and normal leukocytes were separated into the basic B enzyme and its anionic variant (B1) and A enzyme. However, the amount of B1 enzyme relative to B enzyme or the activity ratio of B1 enzyme to total arylsulfatase B (B + B1) was higher in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells than in normal cells. The anionic property of the enzyme was found to be due to phosphate groups bound to the carbohydrate moiety of the arylsulfatase, based on the following results. When B1 enzyme was treated with alkaline phosphatase followed by isoelectric focusing, it was changed to a less anionic enzyme with heterogeneous components which are ascribed to phosphodiester groups linked to the heterogeneous carbohydrate moiety of the enzyme; no effect was observed by sialidase treatment. Upon treatment of B1 enzyme with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H, which cleaves sugar chains of a high mannose type in glycoproteins, the anionic heterogeneous components were converted to the basic component similar to B enzyme. From our present and previous observations, it can be concluded that the increase of phosphorylated forms of the lysosomal hydrolase represents one characteristic of rapidly proliferating neoplastic cells.

The activity of arylsulphatases in serum of patients with several bullous diseases.

Spectrophotometric estimations of levels of activities of arylsulphatases A and B in serum of patients with several bullous diseases were carried out. The activities of these enzymes in cases of bullous pemphigoid were at high levels in comparison with those in cases of other bullous diseases and in the control group. Especially, the activity of arylsulphatase B was remarkably increased. It seems likely that there is some relationship between these disturbances and the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid.

Prenatal exclusion of late infantile metachromatic leucodystrophy in a late-presenting pregnancy by assay of fetal leucocytes.

Metachromatic leucodystrophy was excluded in a fetus at risk, by assay of fetal blood collected at fetoscopy. Isolated fetal leucocytes were shown to have activities of arylsulphatase A and cerebroside sulphatase in the heterozygous range. The prediction was confirmed in the newborn.

Human eosinophil arylsulfatase B. Structure and activity of the purified tetrameric lysosomal hydrolase.

Arylsulfatase B from human eosinophils was purified free of contaminating proteins by gel filtration and sequential affinity chromatography on Affi-Gel Blue and zinc chelate Sepharose. 50 micrograms of the purified enzyme presented as a single stained band on alkaline disc gel electrophoresis. In both goats and rabbits, the purified enzyme elicited monospecific antisera that yielded single precipitation arcs on Ouchterlony analysis with a human eosinophil extract and the purified enzyme; the immunoprecipitation lines fused in a pattern of identity, providing immunochemical evidence for the homogeneity of the purified enzyme. On sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a dominant lower molecular weight protein and three other bands with molecular weights approximately two, three, and four times that of the major protein band were resolved. The prominence of the less rapidly migrating protein bands increased relative to the major band if the enzyme was maintained under acidic conditions or was reacted with the cross-linking agent dimethyl suberimidate under alkaline conditions before SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, supporting the conclusion that the enzyme consists of four subunits. Two stained bands were present on acid disc gel electrophoresis; they were composed of oligomeric forms of enzyme on analysis by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in a second dimension. A minimum molecular weight of 70,190 was determined from amino acid composition analysis for the tetrameric form of the enzyme. The specific functional activity of the purified arylsulfatase B was concentration and time dependent, compatible with its association or dissociation into subunit forms with differing specific activities. Factors that govern subunit interactions of arylsulfatase B, including local enzyme concentration and pH, provide mechanisms for regulating the enzymatic activity of this lysosomal hydrolase.