The Ultrastructural Spectrum of Lysosomal Storage Diseases

1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 231-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore C. Iancu
Author(s):  
Carole Vogler ◽  
Harvey S. Rosenberg

Diagnostic procedures for evaluation of patients with lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) seek to identify a deficiency of a responsible lysosomal enzyme or accumulation of a substance that requires the missing enzyme for degradation. Most patients with LSD have progressive neurological degeneration and may have a variety of musculoskeletal and visceral abnormalities. In the LSD, the abnormally diminished lysosomal enzyme results in accumulation of unmetabolized catabolites in distended lysosomes. Because of the subcellular morphology and size of lysosomes, electron microscopy is an ideal tool to study tissue from patients with suspected LSD. In patients with LSD all cells lack the specific lysosomal enzyme but the distribution of storage material is dependent on the extent of catabolism of the substrate in each cell type under normal circumstances. Lysosmal storages diseases affect many cell types and tissues. Storage material though does not accumulate in all tissues and cell types and may be different biochemically and morphologically in different tissues.Conjunctiva, skin, rectal mucosa and peripheral blood leukocytes may show ultrastructural evidence of lysosomal storage even in the absence of clinical findings and thus any of these tissues can be used for ultrastructural examination in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected LSD. Biopsy of skin and conjunctiva are easily obtained and provide multiple cell types including endothelium, epithelium, fibroblasts and nerves for ultrastructural study. Fibroblasts from skin and conjunctiva can also be utilized for the initiation of tissue cultures for chemical assays. Brain biopsy has been largely replaced by biopsy of more readily obtained tissue and by biochemical assays. Such assays though may give equivical or nondiagnostic results and in some lysosomal storage diseases an enzyme defect has not yet been identified and diagnoses can be made only by ultrastructural examination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muna Abed Rabbo ◽  
Yara Khodour ◽  
Laurie S. Kaguni ◽  
Johnny Stiban

AbstractJohann Ludwig Wilhelm Thudicum described sphingolipids (SLs) in the late nineteenth century, but it was only in the past fifty years that SL research surged in importance and applicability. Currently, sphingolipids and their metabolism are hotly debated topics in various biochemical fields. Similar to other macromolecular reactions, SL metabolism has important implications in health and disease in most cells. A plethora of SL-related genetic ailments has been described. Defects in SL catabolism can cause the accumulation of SLs, leading to many types of lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) collectively called sphingolipidoses. These diseases mainly impact the neuronal and immune systems, but other systems can be affected as well. This review aims to present a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the rapidly growing field of sphingolipid LSDs, their etiology, pathology, and potential therapeutic strategies. We first describe LSDs biochemically and briefly discuss their catabolism, followed by general aspects of the major diseases such as Gaucher, Krabbe, Fabry, and Farber among others. We conclude with an overview of the available and potential future therapies for many of the diseases. We strive to present the most important and recent findings from basic research and clinical applications, and to provide a valuable source for understanding these disorders.


Pathology ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
W.F. Carey ◽  
P.V. Nelson ◽  
A.C. Pollard

2016 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya S. Kishnani ◽  
Patricia I. Dickson ◽  
Laurie Muldowney ◽  
Jessica J. Lee ◽  
Amy Rosenberg ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Graceffa

: Although cross-correction was discovered more than 50 years ago, and held the promise of drastically improving disease management, still no cure exists for lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs). Cell therapies hold the potential to halt disease progression: either a subset of autologous cells can be ex vivo/ in vivo transfected with the functional gene or allogenic wild type stem cells can be transplanted. However, majority of cell-based attempts have been ineffective, due to the difficulties in reversing neuronal symptomatology, in finding appropriate gene transfection approaches, in inducing immune tolerance, reducing the risk of graft versus host disease (GVHD) when allogenic cells are used and that of immune response when engineered viruses are administered, coupled with a limited secretion and uptake of some enzymes. In the last decade, due to advances in our understanding of lysosomal biology and mechanisms of cross-correction, coupled with progresses in gene therapy, ongoing pre-clinical and clinical investigations have remarkably increased. Even gene editing approaches are currently under clinical experimentation. This review proposes to critically discuss and compare trends and advances in cell-based and gene therapy for LSDs. Systemic gene delivery and transplantation of allogenic stem cells will be initially discussed, whereas proposed brain targeting methods will be then critically outlined.


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