scholarly journals Electrochemical (Bio)Sensing of Maple Syrup Urine Disease Biomarkers Pointing to Early Diagnosis: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 7023
Author(s):  
Sophia Karastogianni ◽  
Stella Girousi

Metabolic errors are inherited diseases, where genetic defects prevent a metabolic path, ending up in enzyme malfunction. In correspondence to its remaining or plenitude fall of enzymatic potency, there is an amassment of dangerous metabolites near the metabolic bar and/or a dearth of necessary products, inducing a certain disease. These metabolic errors may include deviations such as point mutations, expunctions or interferences, or further complicated genomic disorders. Based on these facts, maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a scarce metabolic disease, generated by huge concentrations of branched-chain amino acids (b AAs), i.e., leucine, isoleucine, and valine. In this situation, these large amounts of b AAs provoke abnormalities such as liver failure, neurocognitive dysfunctions, and probably death. To overpass those problems, it is crucial to implement a timely and agile diagnosis at the early stages of life in view of their immutable consequence on neonates. Thus, this review will describe MSUD and b AAs analysis based on electrochemical (bio)sensing.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (20) ◽  
pp. 7490
Author(s):  
Jing Xu ◽  
Youseff Jakher ◽  
Rebecca C. Ahrens-Nicklas

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by decreased activity of the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex (BCKDC), which catalyzes the irreversible catabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Current management of this BCAA dyshomeostasis consists of dietary restriction of BCAAs and liver transplantation, which aims to partially restore functional BCKDC activity in the periphery. These treatments improve the circulating levels of BCAAs and significantly increase survival rates in MSUD patients. However, significant cognitive and psychiatric morbidities remain. Specifically, patients are at a higher lifetime risk for cognitive impairments, mood and anxiety disorders (depression, anxiety, and panic disorder), and attention deficit disorder. Recent literature suggests that the neurological sequelae may be due to the brain-specific roles of BCAAs. This review will focus on the derangements of BCAAs observed in the brain of MSUD patients and will explore the potential mechanisms driving neurologic dysfunction. Finally, we will discuss recent evidence that implicates the relevance of BCAA metabolism in other neurological disorders. An understanding of the role of BCAAs in the central nervous system may facilitate future identification of novel therapeutic approaches in MSUD and a broad range of neurological disorders.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 153-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Kazandjieva ◽  
Dimitrina Guleva ◽  
Assia Nikolova ◽  
Sonya Márina

Abstract Leucinosis (maple syrup urine disease - MSUD) is an inherited aminoacidopathy and organic aciduria caused by severe enzyme defect in the metabolic pathway of amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. The classical variant of the disease is characterized by accumulation of both amino and α-keto acids, particulary the most toxic rapid elevation of circulating leucine and its ketoacid, α-ketoisocaproate, which cause encephalopathy and life-threatening brain swelling. However, patients with the most severe form, classical maple syrup urine disease, may appear normal at birth, but develop acute metabolic decompensation within the first weeks of life with typical symptoms: poor feeding, vomiting, poor weight gain, somnolence and burnt sugar-smelling urine, reminiscent of maple syrup. Early diagnosis and dietary intervention improve the patient’s condition, prevent severe complications, and may allow normal intellectual development. We present a 4-month old infant with leucinosis dignosed 3 months earlier, due to elevated levels of amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine. The patient was full-term neonate with an uncomplecated delivery, without any family history of metabolic disorder or consanguinity. The infant was referred to a dermatologist, because of maculopapular exanthema on the scalp, trunk, upper and lower extremities, and exfoliative dermatitis of the perioral, particularly anogenital regions, associated with diarrhea. Skin involvement was associated with poor general condition of the infant exhibiting severe hypotension, anemic syndrome, dyspepsia and neurological symptoms. Exanthema developed a few days after the initiation of nutritional therapy for MSUD: isoleucine-, leucine-, and valine-free powdered medical food (MSUD-2) supplemented with iron. Zink levels were within normal ranges. Rapid skin improvement occurred after adequate branched-chain amino acids supplementation was commenced under regular laboratory control (normal zinc serum level with deficiencies of leucine and valine), skin hygiene with antiseptics, emollients and low potent topical corticosteroids. Treatment of acute metabolic decompensation and dietary restriction of branched-chain amino acids are the main aspects in the management of maple syrup urine disease. Common findings in patients with MSUD include: plasma amino acid imbalance, particularly of essential amino acids, failure to thrive attributed to restriction of particular precursor amino acids and natural proteins, micronutrient deficiencies or higher energy requirement due to chronic illness or inflammation. Due to low intake of branched-chain amino acids, some patients develop skin lesions known as acrodermatitis enteropathica-like syndrome. Here we report a case of an infant who developed acrodermatitis enteropathica-like skin eruptions due to branched-chain amino acid deficiency during treatment of maple syrup urine disease. According to available world literature, this is the first report of acrodermatitis enteropathica-like syndrome in an infant with maple syrup urine disease (leucinosis) in the Republic of Bulgaria.


2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1919-1932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Jouvet ◽  
Pierre Rustin ◽  
Deanna L. Taylor ◽  
Jennifer M. Pocock ◽  
Ursula Felderhoff-Mueser ◽  
...  

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an inborn error of metabolism caused by a deficiency in branched chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase that can result in neurodegenerative sequelae in human infants. In the present study, increased concentrations of MSUD metabolites, in particular α-keto isocaproic acid, specifically induced apoptosis in glial and neuronal cells in culture. Apoptosis was associated with a reduction in cell respiration but without impairment of respiratory chain function, without early changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and without cytochrome c release into the cytosol. Significantly, α-keto isocaproic acid also triggered neuronal apoptosis in vivo after intracerebral injection into the developing rat brain. These findings suggest that MSUD neurodegeneration may result, at least in part, from an accumulation of branched chain amino acids and their α-keto acid derivatives that trigger apoptosis through a cytochrome c-independent pathway.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Ruffato Resende Campanholi ◽  
Ana Vitoria Barban Margutti ◽  
Wilson Araújo Silva ◽  
Daniel Fantozzi Garcia ◽  
Greice Andreotti de Molfetta ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disorder caused by the deficient activity of the branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKD) enzymatic complex. BCKD is a mitochondrial complex encoded by four genes: BCKDHA, BCKDHB, DBT, and DLD. MSUD is predominantly caused by mutations in the BCKDHA, BCKDHB, and DBT genes which encode the E1α, E1β, and E2 subunits of the BCKD complex, respectively. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic basis of MSUD in a cohort of Chilean MSUD patients by identifying point mutations in the BCKDHA, BCKDHB, and DBT genes and to describe their impact on the phenotypic heterogeneity of these patients. This manuscript describes a cross-sectional study of 18 MSUD patients carried out using PCR and DNA sequencing.Results: Four novel pathogenic mutations were identified: one in BCKDHA (p.Thr338Ile), two in BCKDHB (p.Gly336Ser e p.Pro240Thr), and one in DBT (p.Gly406Asp). Four additional pathogenic mutations found in this study have been described previously.Conclusion: There were no correlations between the genotype and phenotype of the patients. Thus, if MSUD is diagnosed earlier, with a neonatal screening approach, it might be possible to establish genotype-phenotype relationships more efficiently.


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