Cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light chain levels in CLN2 disease patients treated with enzyme replacement therapy normalise after two years on treatment

Classic late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN2 disease) is caused by a deficiency of tripeptidyl-peptidase-1. In 2017, the first CLN2 enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) cerliponase alfa (Brineura) was approved by the FDA and EMA. The CLN2 disease clinical rating scale (CLN2 CRS) was developed to monitor loss of motor function, language and vision as well as frequency of generalised tonic clonic seizures. Using CLN2 CRS in an open label clinical trial it was shown that Brineura slowed down the progression of CLN2 symptoms. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a protein highly expressed in myelinated axons. An increase of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood NfL is found in a variety of neuroinflammatory, neurodegenerative, traumatic, and cerebrovascular diseases. We analysed CSF NfL in CLN2 patients treated with Brineura to establish whether it can be used as a possible biomarker of response to therapy. Newly diagnosed patients had CSF samples collected and analysed at first treatment dose and up to 12 weeks post-treatment to look at acute changes. Patients on a compassionate use programme who were already receiving ERT for approximately 1yr had CSF samples collected and NfL analysed over the following 1.3 years (2.3 years post-initiation of ERT) to look at long-term changes. All newly diagnosed patients we investigated with classical late infantile phenotype had high NfL levels >2000 pg/ml at start of treatment. No significant change was observed in NfL up to 12 weeks post-treatment. After one year of ERT, two out of six patients still had high NfL levels, but all patients showed a continued decrease, and all had low NfL levels after two years on ERT. NfL levels appear to correspond and predict improved clinical status of patients on ERT and could be useful as a biomarker to monitor neurodegeneration and verify disease modification in CLN2 patients on ERT.

Enzyme Replacement Therapy with Idursulfase in Patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II: Literature Review

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II; Hunter syndrome) is X-linked hereditary disease from the group of lysosomal storage disease. Its prevalence is 3–7 cases per 1 million live-born boys. MPS II occurs due to the deficiency of iduronate-2-sulfatase enzyme because of pathological changes in the structure of the IDS gene. Enzyme deficiency leads to the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate, in lysosomes. This leads to the damage of various organs and systems in the body with further development of clinical picture of the disease: coarse face, recurrent infections of upper respiratory tract, hearing loss up to deafness, cardiovascular and respiratory systems pathologies, hepatosplenomegaly, musculoskeletal system abnormalities, low growth, central nervous system damage. Enzyme replacement therapy with idursulfase, that was introduced in clinical practice 15 years ago, has significantly changed the quality of life of these patients. Idursulfase is purified form of natural lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase obtained via human cell line. Exogenous enzyme entry promotes GAGs catabolism in cells. This article provides outcomes analysis of foreign and Russian studies on the efficacy and safety of this medication, and its effect on MPS II patients survivability.

Allergic Reactions at Enzyme Replacement Therapy in Children with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II; Hunter syndrome) is rare hereditary disease caused by changes in the IDS gene and associated deficiency of lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase (I2S). The main treatment scheme for children with MPS II is enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant human I2S. The major issue of ERT is development of allergic (sometimes up to severe anaphylaxis) reactions to recombinant enzymes. The article covers features of infusion-related reactions to ERT, it describes pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria management algorithm of anaphylaxis. Whereas, there is the need of further studies on allergic infusion-related reactions to ERT in children.

Early Diagnosis and Results of Enzyme Replacement Therapy in the Patient with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI: Clinical Case

Background. Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI, Maroteaux–Lamy syndrome) is rare autosomal-recessive multisystem disease, one of the group of lysosomal storage diseases. The MPS VI pathogenesis is determined by arylsulfatase B enzyme deficiency caused by mutations in the ARSB gene. There are only few published clinical examples of this disease that covers the results of early enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) onset.Clinical case description. The child was suspected to have lysosomal storage disease at the age of 1.5 months, it was based on microscopic analysis of blood smears: Alder abnormality was revealed (granulations and red-violet inclusions in neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes cytoplasm). The diagnosis was confirmed at the age of 3 months: increased glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) concentration in the urine, arylsulfatase B activity decrease in dried blood spots, and pathogenic variant c.943C>T (p. R315X) in the ARSB gene in homozygous state were revealed. ERT with galsulfase was started at the age of 7 months. There was decrease in excretion of GAGs in urine to normal level after 9 and 15 months of therapy. Normal growth and body proportions for the patient’s age were determined 3 years after continuous ERT. However, there was progression of multiple dysostosis and joint stiffness, as well as eyes lesion.Conclusion. Early ERT onset cannot completely stop MPS VI progression but it allows to reduce the severity of several symptoms and improves patient’s quality of life.

The New Pharmacological Chaperones PBXs Increase α-Galactosidase A Activity in Fabry Disease Cellular Models

Fabry disease is an X-linked multisystemic disorder caused by the impairment of lysosomal α-Galactosidase A, which leads to the progressive accumulation of glycosphingolipids and to defective lysosomal metabolism. Currently, Fabry disease is treated by enzyme replacement therapy or the orally administrated pharmacological chaperone Migalastat. Both therapeutic strategies present limitations, since enzyme replacement therapy has shown low half-life and bioavailability, while Migalastat is only approved for patients with specific mutations. The aim of this work was to assess the efficacy of PBX galactose analogues to stabilize α-Galactosidase A and therefore evaluate their potential use in Fabry patients with mutations that are not amenable to the treatment with Migalastat. We demonstrated that PBX compounds are safe and effective concerning stabilization of α-Galactosidase A in relevant cellular models of the disease, as assessed by enzymatic activity measurements, molecular modelling, and cell viability assays. This experimental evidence suggests that PBX compounds are promising candidates for the treatment of Fabry disease caused by mutations which affect the folding of α-Galactosidase A, even for GLA variants that are not amenable to the treatment with Migalastat.