Consequences of excessive glucosylsphingosine in glucocerebrosidase-deficient zebrafish.

Journal of Lipid Research

Rolf G. Boot¹  Annemarie H. Meijer²  Ernst H. Beijk²  Christian Tudorache²  Claire de Wit³  Johannes M.F.G. Aerts³  Lindsey T. Lelieveld³  Kimberley C. Zwiers³  Maria J. Ferraz³  Marta Artola³  Daniela Salvatori⁴  Saskia Maas⁴  Sophie Gerhardt⁴ 

[1] Anatomy and Physiology, Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands;Medical Biochemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands;Pathology Unit, Central Laboratory Animal Facility, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands;

关键词: Gaucher disease;    acid ceramidase;    lipid metabolism;    zebrafish;    glucosylceramide;    sphingolipids;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract: In Gaucher disease (GD), the deficiency of glucocerebrosidase causes lysosomal accumulation of glucosylceramide (GlcCer), which is partly converted by acid ceramidase to glucosylsphingosine (GlcSph) in the lysosome. Chronically elevated blood and tissue GlcSph is thought to contribute to symptoms in GD patients as well as to increased risk for Parkinson’s disease. On the other hand, formation of GlcSph may be beneficial since the water soluble sphingoid base is excreted via urine and bile. To study the role of excessive GlcSph formation during glucocerebrosidase deficiency, we studied zebrafish that have two orthologs of acid ceramidase, Asah1a and Asah1b. Only the latter is involved in the formation of GlcSph in glucocerebrosidase-deficient zebrafish as revealed by knockouts of Asah1a or Asah1b with glucocerebrosidase deficiency (either pharmacologically induced or genetic). Comparison of zebrafish with excessive GlcSph (gba1-/- fish) and without GlcSph (gba1-/-:asah1b-/- fish) allowed us to study the consequences of chronic high levels of GlcSph. Prevention of excessive GlcSph in gba1-/-:asah1b-/- fish did not restrict storage cells, GlcCer accumulation, or neuroinflammation. However, GD fish lacking excessive GlcSph show an ameliorated course of disease reflected by significantly increased lifespan, delayed locomotor abnormality, and delayed development of an abnormal curved back posture. The loss of tyrosine hydroxylase 1 (th1) mRNA, a marker of dopaminergic neurons, is slowed down in brain of GD fish lacking excessive GlcSph. In conclusion, in the zebrafish GD model, excess GlcSph has little impact on (neuro)inflammation or the presence of GlcCer-laden macrophages but rather seems harmful to th1-positive dopaminergic neurons.

【 授权许可】

Unknown