[PDF][PDF] Enzyme replacement therapy clears Gb3 deposits from a podocyte cell culture model of Fabry disease but fails to restore altered cellular signaling

F Braun, L Blomberg, S Brodesser… - Cell Physiol …, 2019 - cellphysiolbiochem.com
F Braun, L Blomberg, S Brodesser, MC Liebau, B Schermer, T Benzing, CE Kurschat
Cell Physiol Biochem, 2019cellphysiolbiochem.com
Abstract Background/Aims: Fabry disease (FD) is a lysosomal storage disorder
characterized by impaired alpha-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) enzyme activity due to mutations
in the GLA gene. While virtually all tissues are affected, renal damage is particularly critical
for the patients' outcome. Currently, powerful diagnostic tools and in vivo research models to
study FD in the kidney are lacking, which is a major obstacle for further improvements in
diagnosis and therapy. The present study focuses on the effects of enzyme replacement …
Background/Aims
Fabry disease (FD) is a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by impaired alpha-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) enzyme activity due to mutations in the GLA gene. While virtually all tissues are affected, renal damage is particularly critical for the patients’ outcome. Currently, powerful diagnostic tools and in vivo research models to study FD in the kidney are lacking, which is a major obstacle for further improvements in diagnosis and therapy. The present study focuses on the effects of enzyme replacement therapy on a previously established podocyte cell culture model of Fabry disease.
Methods
We investigated the effect of in vitro application of α-Gal A on Fabry podocytes for 3 days, mimicking enzyme replacement therapy. We studied reduction of Gb3 levels and dysregulated molecular pathways such as autophagy, mTOR/AKT signaling and pro-fibrotic signaling by employing immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, tandem mass spectrometry and western blot.
Results
We detected complete resolution of Gb3 accumulation in Fabry podocytes upon α-Gal A treatment. Despite robust Gb3 clearance, dysregulation of the signaling pathways investigated was not reversed.
Conclusion
This study presents first evidence for Gb3-independent effects regarding dysregulation of signal transduction mechanisms in FD not recovering upon α-Gal A treatment. We assume that intracellular alterations observed in FD
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