Early enzyme replacement therapy enables a successful hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in mucopolysaccharidosis type IH: Divergent clinical outcomes in two Japanese siblings.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IH (MPS IH, Hurler syndrome) is a progressive, multisystem autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder resulting in the consequent accumulation of glycosaminoglycans. It is well recognized that early hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) prevents neurocognitive decline in MPS IH. We followed the divergent clinical course in two Japanese siblings with MPS IH. The elder sister (proband) received a diagnosis of MPS IH at 6 months old. At the time of this diagnosis enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) was not available in Japan. She developed severe and recurrent respiratory disease and died at 1 year 10 months of age. Her younger sister also received a diagnosis of MPS IH, but at 18 days of age, and started ERT at 34 days of age. ERT continued until 8 months of age and prevented the progression of somatic manifestations of MPS IH. She received HSCT at 9 months old. Five years after HSCT she had no symptoms of MPS IH except for mild signs of dysostosis multiplex and mild cardiac valvular disease. Her neurological function was generally preserved compared with her elder sister. The prognosis and quality of life differed significantly between the sisters. Therefore, early HSCT can preserve neurocognition by preventing the neurodegeneration from MPS IH. In addition, ERT initiated during the asymptomatic period prevented the patient from developing somatic manifestations and enabled successful HSCT in this case.

Newborn screening and diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidoses.

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are caused by deficiency of lysosomal enzyme activities needed to degrade glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are long unbranched polysaccharides consisting of repeating disaccharides. GAGs include: chondroitin sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS), heparan sulfate (HS), keratan sulfate (KS), and hyaluronan. Their catabolism may be blocked singly or in combination depending on the specific enzyme deficiency. There are 11 known enzyme deficiencies, resulting in seven distinct forms of MPS with a collective incidence of higher than 1 in 25,000 live births. Accumulation of undegraded metabolites in lysosomes gives rise to distinct clinical syndromes. Generally, the clinical conditions progress if untreated, leading to developmental delay, systemic skeletal deformities, and early death. MPS disorders are potentially treatable with enzyme replacement therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. For maximum benefit of available therapies, early detection and intervention are critical. We recently developed a novel high-throughput multiplex method to assay DS, HS, and KS simultaneously in blood samples by using high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for MPS. The overall performance metrics of HS and DS values on MPS I, II, and VII patients vs. healthy controls at newborns were as follows using a given set of cut-off values: sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 98.5-99.4%; positive predictive value, 54.5-75%; false positive rate, 0.62-1.54%; and false negative rate, 0%. These findings show that the combined measurements of these three GAGs are sensitive and specific for detecting all types of MPS with acceptable false negative/positive rates. In addition, this method will also be used for monitoring therapeutic efficacy. We review the history of GAG assay and application to diagnosis for MPS.

Dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate as a biomarker for mucopolysaccharidosis I.

Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of alpha-L-iduronidase leading to accumulation of its catabolic substrates, dermatan sulfate (DS) and heparan sulfate (HS), in lysosomes. This results in progressive multiorgan dysfunction and death in early childhood. The recent success of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for MPS I highlights the need for biomarkers that reflect response to such therapy. To determine which biochemical markers are better, we determined serum and urine DS and HS levels by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in ERT-treated MPS I patients. The group included one Hurler, 11 Hurler/Scheie, and two Scheie patients. Seven patients were treated from week 1, whereas the other seven were treated from week 26. Serum and urine DS (DeltaDi-4S/6S) and HS (DeltaDiHS-0S, DeltaDiHS-NS) were measured at baseline, week 26, and week 72. Serum DeltaDi-4S/6S, DeltaDiHS-0S, and DeltaDiHS-NS levels decreased by 72%, 56%, and 56%, respectively, from baseline at week 72. Urinary glycosaminoglycan level decreased by 61.2%, whereas urine DeltaDi-4S/6S, DeltaDiHS-0S, and DeltaDiHS-NS decreased by 66.8%, 71.8%, and 71%, respectively. Regardless of age and clinical severity, all patients showed marked decrease of DS and HS in blood and urine samples. We also evaluated serum DS and HS from dried blood-spot samples of three MPS I newborn patients, showing marked elevation of DS and HS levels compared with those in control newborns. In conclusion, blood and urine levels of DS and HS provide an intrinsic monitoring and screening tool for MPS I patients.

Validation of keratan sulfate level in mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA (MPS IVA, Morquio A disease), a progressive lysosomal storage disease, causes skeletal chondrodysplasia through excessive storage of keratan sulfate (KS). KS is synthesized mainly in cartilage and released to the circulation. The excess storage of KS disrupts cartilage, consequently releasing more KS into circulation, which is a critical biomarker for MPS IVA. Thus, assessment of KS level provides a potential screening strategy and determines clinical course and efficacy of therapies. We have recently developed a tandem mass spectrometry liquid chromatography [LC/MS/MS] method to assay KS levels in blood. Forty-nine blood specimens from patients with MPS IVA [severe (n = 33), attenuated (n = 11) and undefined (n = 5)] were analyzed for comparison of blood KS concentration with that of healthy subjects and for correlation with clinical severity. Plasma samples were digested by keratanase II to obtain disaccharides of KS. Digested samples were assayed by LC/MS/MS. We found that blood KS levels (0.4-26 µg/ml) in MPS IVA patients were significantly higher than those in age-matched controls (0.67-4.6 µg/ml; P < 0.0001). It was found that blood KS level varied with age and clinical severity in the patients. Blood KS levels in MPS IVA peaked between 2 years and 5 years of age (mean 11.4 µg/ml). Blood KS levels in severe MPS IVA (mean 7.3 µg/ml) were higher than in the attenuated form (mean 2.1 µg/ml) (P = 0.012). We also found elevated blood KS levels in other types of MPS. These findings indicate that the new KS assay for blood is suitable for early diagnosis and longitudinal assessment of disease severity in MPS IVA.

Validation of disaccharide compositions derived from dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate in mucopolysaccharidoses and mucolipidoses II and III by tandem mass spectrometry.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are accumulated in various organs in both mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) and mucolipidoses II and III (ML II and III). MPS and ML II and III patients can not properly degrade dermatan sulfate (DS) and/or heparan sulfate (HS). HS storage occurs in the brain leading to neurological signs while DS storage involves mainly visceral and skeletal manifestations. Excessive DS and HS released into circulation and thus blood levels of both are elevated, therefore, DS and HS in blood could be critical biomarkers for MPS and ML. Such measurement can provide a potential early screening, assessment of the clinical course and efficacy of therapies. We here assay DS and HS levels in MPS and ML patients using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Plasma samples were digested by heparitinase and chondroitinase B to obtain disaccharides of DS and HS, followed by LC/MS/MS analysis. One hundred-twenty samples from patients and 112 control samples were analyzed. We found that all MPS I, II, III and VI patients had a significant elevation of all DS+HS compositions analyzed in plasma, compared with the controls (P<0.0001). Specificity and sensitivity was 100% if the cut off value is 800 ng/ml between control and these types of MPS group. All MPS I, II and III patients also had a significant elevation of plasma HS, compared with the controls (P<0.0001). All MPS VI patients had a significant elevation of plasma DS, compared with the controls (P<0.0001). These findings suggest measurement of DS and/or HS levels by LC/MS/MS is applicable to the screening for MPS I, II, III and VI patients.