A Specific Activity-Based Probe to Monitor Family GH59 Galactosylceramidase, the Enzyme Deficient in Krabbe Disease

Galactosylceramidase (GALC) is the lysosomal β-galactosidase responsible for the hydrolysis of galactosylceramide. Inherited deficiency in GALC causes Krabbe disease, a devastating neurological disorder characterized by accumulation of galactosylceramide and its deacylated counterpart, the toxic sphingoid base galactosylsphingosine (psychosine). We report the design and application of a fluorescently tagged activity-based probe (ABP) for the sensitive and specific labeling of active GALC molecules from various species. The probe consists of a β-galactopyranose-configured cyclophellitol-epoxide core, conferring specificity for GALC, equipped with a BODIPY fluorophore at C6 that allows visualization of active enzyme in cells and tissues. Detection of residual GALC in patient fibroblasts holds great promise for laboratory diagnosis of Krabbe disease. We further describe a procedure for in situ imaging of active GALC in murine brain by intra-cerebroventricular infusion of the ABP. In conclusion, this GALC-specific ABP should find broad applications in diagnosis, drug development, and evaluation of therapy for Krabbe disease

Elevation of glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B in type 1 Gaucher disease patients and mouse models.

Gaucher disease is caused by inherited deficiency of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase. Proteome analysis of laser-dissected splenic Gaucher cells revealed increased amounts of glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (gpNMB). Plasma gpNMB was also elevated, correlating with chitotriosidase and CCL18, which are established markers for human Gaucher cells. In Gaucher mice, gpNMB is also produced by Gaucher cells. Correction of glucocerebrosidase deficiency in mice by gene transfer or pharmacological substrate reduction reverses gpNMB abnormalities. In conclusion, gpNMB acts as a marker for glucosylceramide-laden macrophages in man and mouse and gpNMB should be considered as candidate biomarker for Gaucher disease in treatment monitoring

Glucosylated cholesterol in mammalian cells and tissues: formation and degradation by multiple cellular β-glucosidases.

The membrane lipid glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is continuously formed and degraded. Cells express two GlcCer-degrading β-glucosidases, glucocerebrosidase (GBA) and GBA2, located in and outside the lysosome, respectively. Here we demonstrate that through transglucosylation both GBA and GBA2 are able to catalyze in vitro the transfer of glucosyl-moieties from GlcCer to cholesterol, and vice versa. Furthermore, the natural occurrence of 1-O-cholesteryl-β-D-glucopyranoside (GlcChol) in mouse tissues and human plasma is demonstrated using LC-MS/MS and (13)C6-labeled GlcChol as internal standard. In cells, the inhibition of GBA increases GlcChol, whereas inhibition of GBA2 decreases glucosylated sterol. Similarly, in GBA2-deficient mice, GlcChol is reduced. Depletion of GlcCer by inhibition of GlcCer synthase decreases GlcChol in cells and likewise in plasma of inhibitor-treated Gaucher disease patients. In tissues of mice with Niemann-Pick type C disease, a condition characterized by intralysosomal accumulation of cholesterol, marked elevations in GlcChol occur as well. When lysosomal accumulation of cholesterol is induced in cultured cells, GlcChol is formed via lysosomal GBA. This illustrates that reversible transglucosylation reactions are highly dependent on local availability of suitable acceptors. In conclusion, mammalian tissues contain GlcChol formed by transglucosylation through β-glucosidases using GlcCer as donor. Our findings reveal a novel metabolic function for GlcCer.This study was made possible by the ERC AdG CHEMBIOSPHIN. The authors declare no financial conflicts of interest relevant to this study

Plasma chitotriosidase and CCL18 as surrogate markers for granulomatous macrophages in sarcoidosis

BACKGROUND: Accumulation of macrophages in multiple organs is a common feature of sarcoidosis and Gaucher disease. The vast number of storage macrophages in Gaucher patients has facilitated the discovery of suitable plasma markers like chitotriosidase and CCL18. METHODS: Plasma specimens of patients with sarcoidosis were examined on chitotriosidase activity and CCL18 protein levels. RESULTS: Chitotriosidase was markedly increased, being on average 13.7-fold elevated (range: 1.1-43.3). The sensitivity of demonstrating sarcoidosis using plasma chitotriosidase values exceeded that using serum angiotensin-converting enzyme values. A 3.5-fold (range: 1-15) increase in CCL18 was also observed. The relative changes in chitotriosidase and CCL18 during the course of disease closely mimicked each other, suggesting an identical cellular source. In situ hybridization analysis confirmed massive production of chitotriosidase by sarcoid macrophages. The increase in plasma chitotriosidase correlated with the stage of disease, being highest in active sarcoidosis with extrapulmonary involvement. Therapy with steroids resulted in clear reduction of plasma chitotriosidase and CCL18 and relapse of disease activity was preceded by increases in these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcoid macrophages secrete high quantities of chitotriosidase and CCL18. Determination of plasma chitotriosidase and CCL18 may be useful to monitor changes in granulomatous macrophages during the course of sarcoidosi

Marked differences in tissue-specific expression of chitinases in mouse and man

Two distinct chitinases have been identified in mammals: a phagocyte-specific enzyme named chitotriosidase and an acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) expressed in the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. Increased expression of both chitinases has been observed in different pathological conditions: chitotriosidase in lysosomal lipid storage disorders like Gaucher disease and AMCase in asthmatic lung disease. Recently, it was reported that AMCase activity is involved in the pathogenesis of asthma in an induced mouse model. Inhibition of chitinase activity was found to alleviate the inflammation-driven pathology. We studied the tissue-specific expression of both chitinases in mice and compared it to the situation in man. In both species AMCase is expressed in alveolar macrophages and in the gastrointestinal tract. In mice, chitotriosidase is expressed only in the gastrointestinal tract, the tongue, fore-stomach, and Paneth cells in the small intestine, whereas in man the enzyme is expressed exclusively by professional phagocytes. This species difference seems to be mediated by distinct promoter usage. In conclusion, the pattern of expression of chitinases in the lung differs between mouse and man. The implications for the development of anti-asthma drugs with chitinases as targets are discusse

CCL18: a urinary marker of Gaucher cell burden in Gaucher patients

Glucosylceramide-laden tissue macrophages in Gaucher patients secrete large quantities of chitotriosidase and CC chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18), resulting in markedly increased plasma levels. We have comparatively investigated the occurrence of both parameters in plasma and urine samples of Gaucher patients. Chitotriosidase was high in urine samples of some symptomatic patients, but elevations did not correlate with increased plasma concentrations. Urinary chitotriosidase was particularly high in a patient with severe kidney involvement and local storage cell infiltration. Urinary levels of CCL18 were also highly elevated in samples from Gaucher patients as compared to controls. The median value of the CCL18/creatinine ratio in urine samples of 31 Gaucher patients was 143.3 pg/micromol (range 32-551) and in those of 12 normal subjects was 4.1 pg/micromol (range 1.3-6.8). In sharp contrast to chitotriosidase, increases in the low-molecular-mass chemokine CCL18 in urine and plasma specimens of Gaucher patients correlated well. A correlation was also observed for reductions in urinary and plasma CCL18 following therapy. It is concluded that assessment of urinary CCL18 of Gaucher patients gives insight into the total body burden on Gaucher cells, whereas that of chitotriosidase does not. Urinary chitotriosidase appears rather to be a reflection of renal patholog

The chitinase-like protein YKL-40: a possible biomarker of inflammation and airway remodeling in severe pediatric asthma

Problematic severe childhood asthma includes a subgroup of patients who are resistant to therapy. The specific mechanisms involved are unknown, and novel biomarkers are required to facilitate treatment and diagnosis of therapy-resistant asthma. The chitinase-like protein YKL-40 has been related to asthma and airway remodeling. To compare serum YKL-40 levels in children with severe, therapy-resistant asthma (n = 34), children with controlled persistent asthma (n = 39), and healthy controls (n = 27), and to investigate correlations with biomarkers of inflammation and airway remodeling. The study protocol included questionnaires, measurement of exhaled nitric oxide in exhaled air, blood sampling for inflammatory biomarkers, and high-resolution computed tomography of the lungs to identify bronchial wall thickening (therapy-resistant only). Serum YKL-40 levels were measured by ELISA, and all asthmatic children were genotyped for a CHI3L1 promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (rs4950928). Serum YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in children with therapy-resistant asthma than in healthy children (19.2 ng/mL vs 13.8 ng/mL, P = .03). Among children with severe, therapy-resistant asthma, YKL-40 levels correlated with fraction of exhaled nitric oxide in exhaled air (r = 0.48, P = .004), blood neutrophils (r = 0.63, P < .001), and bronchial wall thickening on high-resolution computed tomography (r = 0.45, P = .01). Following adjustment for CHI3L1 genotype, significantly greater levels of YKL-40 were found in children with therapy-resistant asthma than in children with controlled asthma. YKL-40 levels are increased in children with severe, therapy-resistant asthma compared to healthy children, and also compared to children with controlled asthma following correction for genotyp