0000000000676190

AUTHOR

Konrad Sandhoff

Acid ceramidase deficiency: Farber lipogranulomatosis, spinal muscular atrophy associated with progressive myoclonic epilepsy and peripheral osteolysis

Abstract An inherited deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme ceramidase leads to accumulation of the sphingolipid ceramide in several organs such as skin, liver, brain and other tissues, resulting in a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. The most common form, called Farber lipogranulomatosis, is characterized by subcutaneous skin nodules and a progressive hoarseness, in many cases also the central nervous system is affected. A lethal hydrops fetalis represents the most severe form. A ceramidase deficiency was also found in a few patients in whom neurological symptoms such as spinal muscular atrophy and myoclonus epilepsy dominated the clinical picture, in other adult patients peripheral …

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Functional and genetic characterization of the non-lysosomal glucosylceramidase 2 as a modifier for Gaucher disease.

Background: Gaucher disease (GD) is the most common inherited lysosomal storage disorder in humans, caused by mutations in the gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GBA1). GD is clinically heterogeneous and although the type of GBA1 mutation plays a role in determining the type of GD, it does not explain the clinical variability seen among patients. Cumulative evidence from recent studies suggests that GBA2 could play a role in the pathogenesis of GD and potentially interacts with GBA1. Methods: We used a framework of functional and genetic approaches in order to further characterize a potential role of GBA2 in GD. Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) levels in spleen, liver and brain…

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Acid Ceramidase Deficiency

Abstract A deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme ceramidase leads to accumulation of the sphingolipid ceramide in several organs such as skin, liver, brain and other tissues, resulting in a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. The most common form, called Farber lipogranulomatosis, is characterized by subcutaneous skin nodules and a progressive hoarseness, in many cases also the central nervous system is affected. A lethal hydrops fetalis represents the most severe form. A ceramidase deficiency was also found in a few patients in whom neurological symptoms such as spinal muscular atrophy and myoclonus epilepsy dominated the clinical picture. In the ceramidase gene, which has been mapped …

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