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Ultrastructure and peroxidase of leucocytes in five patients with juvenile form of ceroid lipofuscinoses.

Peripheral leucocytes obtained from five patients with clinical histories and funduscopic findings typical of the juvenile form of the so-called neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCLF) (synonym: Spielmeyer-Vogt disease) were assayed for peroxidase activity and examined by electron microscopy. The peroxidase levels were considerably lower in three but normal in two patients. Ultrastructurally, the lymphocytes of all five patients showed the presence of tubulo-membranous cytosomes many displaying the fingerprint images at present regarded as being typical for the NCLF. The possible implications of the discrepancy between the morphological observations and the enzymatic findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Retarded bone formation in GM1-gangliosidosis: a study of the infantile form and comparison with two canine models.

The development of skeletal lesions in two canine models of GM1-gangliosidosis, English springer spaniels and Portuguese water dogs, has been studied and compared to osseous abnormalities in a child with the infantile form of the disease. In the canine models, skeletal dysplasia was progressive. Lesions were noted at 2 months of age and characterized by retarded endochondral ossification and osteoporosis. Older puppies had focal cartilage necrosis within lumbar vertebral epiphyses. At the cellular level, lesions were characterized by chondrocytic hypertrohy and lysosomal accumulation of storage compounds. Our studies illustrate that the skeletal lesions in both canine models are similar to those in a child with GM1-gangliosidosis. Furthermore, we proposed that the abnormal storage of partially degraded compounds in affected chondrocytes might explain, at least in part, the retarded bone formation noted in patients with GM1-gangliosidosis.

Animals↗

Metabolism of GM1 ganglioside in cultured skin fibroblasts: anomalies in gangliosidoses, sialidoses, and sphingolipid activator protein (SAP, saposin) 1 and prosaposin deficient disorders.

Cultured skin fibroblasts from controls and patients with lysosomal storage diseases were loaded with GM1 ganglioside that had been labelled with tritium in its ceramide moiety. After a 65-h or 240-h incubation, a large percentage of this ganglioside remained undegraded in GM1 gangliosidoses, whereas in the other storage diseases studied, one of its metabolites accumulated by 2-4 fold relative to controls. Labelled GM2 ganglioside accumulated in 4 variants of GM2 gangliosidosis, whereas labelled GM3 ganglioside accumulated in sialidosis, galactosialidoses and sphingolipid activator protein 1 (SAP-1, saposin B) and prosaposin (saposin A, B, C and D) deficient lipidoses. The reduced degradation of GM3 ganglioside in the SAP-1 and prosaposin deficiencies was attributed to the deficient function of SAP-1. The prosaposin deficient cells also showed a reduced re-utilization of radioactive metabolites from GM1 ganglioside (i.e. sphingosine and fatty acid) for phospholipid biosynthesis compared with fibroblasts from the SAP-1 deficient patient or normal controls. This anomaly was ascribed to the previously shown defect in ceramide degradation in prosaposin deficiency.

Child, Preschool↗

Prosaposin deficiency: further characterization of the sphingolipid activator protein-deficient sibs. Multiple glycolipid elevations (including lactosylceramidosis), partial enzyme deficiencies and ultrastructure of the skin in this generalized sphingolipid storage disease.

Sphingolipid activator protein (SAP) deficiency, previously described in two sibs and shown to be caused by the absence of the common saposin precursor (prosaposin), was further characterized by biochemical lipid and enzyme studies and by ultrastructural analysis. The 20-week-old fetal sib had increased concentrations of neutral glycolipids, including mono-, di-, tri- and tetrahexosylceramide, in liver, kidney and cultured skin fibroblasts compared with the controls. Glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide were particularly elevated. The kidney of the affected fetus showed additional increases in the concentration of sulphatide, galactosylceramide and digalactosylceramide. Free ceramide was stored in the liver and kidney, and GM3 and GM2 gangliosides were elevated in the liver, but not the brain, of the fetus. Phospholipids, however, were normal in the affected fetus. In the liver biopsy of the propositus, who later died at 16 weeks of age, only a few lipids could be studied. Glucosylceramide, dihexosylceramide and ceramide were elevated in agreement with our previous study. Enzyme studies were undertaken using detergent-free liposomal substrate preparations and fibroblast extracts. The sibs' beta-glucocerebrosidase and beta-galactocerebrosidase activities were clearly reduced, but their sphingomyelinase activities were normal. The normal activity of the latter enzyme and the almost normal tissue concentration of sphingomyelin in prosaposin deficiency suggest that the prosaposin-derived SAPs are not required for sphingomyelinase activity in vivo. In keeping with the biochemical findings, skin biopsies from the sibs showed massive lysosomal storage with a vesicular and membranous ultrastructure. The function of SAPs in sphingolipid degradation and the role of SAPs for enzyme activity in vitro are discussed. In addition, the similarity in neutral glycolipid accumulations in Niemann-Pick disease type C and in prosaposin deficiency are noted. The phenotype of the prosaposin deficient sibs resembled acute neuronopathic (type 2) Gaucher disease more than Farber disease in several aspects, but their genotype was unique.

Brain Chemistry↗

Restoration of the cholesterol metabolism in 3T3 cell lines derived from the sphingomyelinosis mouse (spm/spm) by transfer of a human chromosome 18.

We searched for a human chromosome that would restore the cholesterol metabolism in 3T3 cell lines (SPM-3T3) derived from homozygous sphingomyelinosis mice (spm/spm). Mouse A9 cells containing a single copy of pSV2neo-tagged chromosomes 9, 11, or 18 derived from normal human fibroblasts served as donor cells for transfer of human chromosomes. Purified A9 microcells were fused with SPM-3T3 cells, and the microcell hybrids were selected in medium containing G418 antibiotics. The microcell hybrids that contained human chromosomes 9, 11, or 18 in a majority of cells were examined. The accumulation of intracellular cholesterol in the microcell hybrids containing a chromosome 18 decreased markedly, whereas in the microcell hybrids containing either chromosomes 9 or 11 it was similar to that in SPM-3T3 cells. The SPM-3T3 cells with an intact chromosome 18 were further passaged and subcloned. Clones which again accumulated intracellular cholesterol had concurrently lost the introduced chromosome 18. The abnormal accumulation was associated with a decrement in the esterification of exogenous cholesterol. These findings suggest that the gene responsible for the abnormal cholesterol metabolism in the spm/spm mice can be restored by a human chromosome 18. The gene was tentatively mapped on 18pter-->18p11.3 or 18q21.3-->qter that was lost during subcloning, thereby resulting in reaccumulation of the intracellular cholesterol.

3T3 Cells↗

Neurovisceral sphingomyelinosis in a Siamese cat.

This report presents the clinical, morphological and biochemical findings on an 11-month-old female Siamese cat with neurovisceral sphingomyelinosis. Gross pathological features and histochemical findings are compared with the human disease counterpart and the previously described animal models. Hepatomegaly was observed while splenomegaly was not. Although sphingomyelin in liver and spleen was biochemically elevated, histochemical results in this case were slightly different from those previously recorded in human and feline Niemann-Pick disease. These results suggest that this feline case might be a different type of animal Niemann-Pick disease to that reported previously.

Animals↗

Feline sphingolipidosis resembling Niemann-Pick disease type C.

A 9-week old domestic short-hair kitten with progressive neurological dysfunction had histopathological lesions consistent with a lysosomal storage disease. Light microscopy of the brain, spinal cord, and ganglia revealed distention and vacuolation of many neuronal populations, and extensive neuroaxonal dystrophy. Large numbers of foamy macrophages were observed in the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and lung. Hepatocytes appeared pale and swollen. Ultrastructural examination of all affected tissues and organs revealed heterogeneous membranous inclusions. Lipid analysis of liver revealed an excess of cholesterol, glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide and phospholipids including sphingomyelin. There was some increase in the levels of brain GM2 and GM3 gangliosides. Sphingomyelinase activity in liver was partially deficient or low normal. Skin fibroblasts were cultured from two affected cats from the colony established with littermates of the subject of this report. The cultured skin fibroblasts had partially decreased sphingomyelinase activity and a greatly decreased ability to esterify exogenous cholesterol. Clinical, morphological, and biochemical findings suggest that this cat had sphingolipidosis similar to human Niemann-Pick disease type C, a disease not previously described in the cat. The feline form of this storage disease may provide a useful model for studies on the human disease.

Animals↗

[Sphingolipid storage disease as an example of a molecular neuropathology (author's transl)].

A short survey on the sphingolipid storage diseases is presented. The chemical nature of the accumulated substances is related to the genetically induced enzymic blocks on their biodegradation. Two disorders are stressed with alter the nervous system: metachromatic leukodystrophy and familiar infantile amaurotic idiocy (GM2-gangliosidosis). The difficulties in the causal interpretation of three variants of the latter disease due to the involvement of isoenzymes are dealt with. The relationship between the enzyme defect in these disorders and their time of clinical onset is discussed. Finally, the diagnostic possibilities are presented which are a prerequisite for preventing a further dissemination of these therapy-resistent inborn errors of metabolism.

Child, Preschool↗

An unusual case of phospholipidosis.

We present the results of a structural, histochemical and lipid-chromatographic study of tissues obtained at postmortem from an unusual case of phospholipidosis. A previous biopsy of the appendix and liver (Elleder et al., 1975a) had revealed a predominance of phosphoglyceride storage, principally of lysobisphosphatidic acid (LBPA) postmortem material showed that this lipid was stored exclusively in central neurons. In the spleen and the lymph node, however, sphingomyelin (SP) was shown, histochemically and chromatographically, to be the main lipid stored. Total sphingomyelinase (SPase) activity in the appendix was reduced to about 50% of normal. Neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD) and a conspicuous discrepancy between the degree of distension of some neurons and their lipid content deserve special mention. The case is contrasted with classical sphingomyelinosis; the complexity of the Niemann-Pick group of diseases is discussed as an indication of the difficulties of classification of any atypical case.

Appendix↗

Farber's disease in two siblings, sural nerve and subcutaneous biopsies by light and electron microscopy.

Two siblings born from consanguineous tunisian parents are reported. They showed a severe form of Farber's disease with prominent involvement of the central and peripheral nervous system: low conduction velocity was noticed in both children. Macular cherry red spots were observed in one of them. The diagnosis for the girl investigated was confirmed by evidence of ceramidase deficiency in cultured fibroblasts. Here we report the pathological findings in the subcutaneous nodules using light and electron microscopy (one case), and in sural nerves using morphometric studies (both cases). Varying morphological aspects of intracellular inclusions, depending on the tissues involved, are described and discussed. A review of all cases reported since Farber's first paper in 1952 is given.

Amidohydrolases↗

Sphingomyelin lipidosis in a cat: Golgi studies.

Alterations in neuronal geometry in a feline model of sphingomyelin lipidosis were evaluated using Golgi staining. Neurons in cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, amygdala, thalamus, and cerebellum were impregnated and many were found to possess conspicuous enlargements at the axon hillock-initial segment region (meganeurites) and/or to sprout secondary neuritic processes from this same area. The latter were sometimes well developed and resembled small dendrites. These changes were cell type specific with distribution limited to certain types of neurons in select brain regions, while others remained normal, or underwent only simple somatic enlargement or generalized degenerative changes. Occasional cortical pyramidal neurons also displayed thinning of dendrites and extensive loss of dendritic spines. These observations add sphingomyelin lipidosis to other neuronal storage disorders in which aberrant neurite growth and meganeurite formation accompany lysosomal enzyme deficiency and the associated metabolic alterations and storage. Although meganeurite-like expansions have been reported to occur in many storage disorders, the appearance of axon hillock-associated neurite growth on morphologically mature neurons has been identified heretofore only in the gangliosidoses, and in feline models of alpha-mannosidosis and mucopolysaccharidosis type 1.

Amygdala↗