Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L Poenaru.
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We had the opportunity of investigating a case (BK) of a severe form of mucopolysaccharidosis with nearly total deficiency of beta-glucuronidase in serum, leucocytes and fibroblasts. We here report results obtained by prenatal diagnosis of a clinically normal child (BK's sister), and point out the difficulty in interpreting a heterozygous level of beta-glucuronidase activity in cultured amniotic cells. Four successive passages of amniotic cells were tested for beta-glucuronidase and alpha-mannosidase activity in at-risk and control cells. In different passages, enzyme activity was between 8 and 49 per cent of controls but 2 to 18 times higher than fibroblasts from the affected brother (BK). The highest activity was observed in the first passage and the lowest in the third. The electrophoretic separation of GAGS from at-risk amniotic fluid showed a normal pattern. We discuss the correlation between enzyme levels in different passages of cultured cells and that found in leucocytes and fibroblasts from the propositus and parents. From a practical point of view, we conclude that the first passage gives the most reliable results for prenatal diagnosis.
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Amniotic fluid in midpregnancy contains significant alpha-glucosidase activity. This enzyme is distinguishable from the lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase, deficiency of which is associated with Pompe's disease. The two enzymes differ in optimum pH, thermal stability, electrophoretic migration, isoelectric point, molecular mass, and immunological response. Amniotic alpha-glucosidase is also different from the classical neutral form. Immuno-cross reactions suggest that the amniotic fluid enzyme has a double fetal origin: renal and intestinal. It seems that alpha-glucosidase in amniotic fluid is linked to lipids.
Leukocytes were obtained from 14 healthy subjects, one patient with the infantile form, two patients with the adult variant of acid maltase deficiency, two patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia, two patients with acute myeloid leukemia, and two patients with chronic lymphotic leukemia. In addition, lymphocytes were prepared from three normal subjects, and five established lymphoid lines were used. Cells were extracted either with Triton 0, 2%, or with water followed by 0.2% Triton. alpha-Glucosidase activity was measured in water homogenates, water extracts after centrifugation, and Triton extracts, with or without antisera directed against acid maltase (EC 3.2.1.3) and renal maltase (EC 3.2.1.20). The percentage of acid and renal maltases was then calculated in each soluble fraction. Normal whole leukocytes (mostly granulocytes) contain both acid and "renal" maltases, whereas normal lymphocytes contain very little or no "renal maltase." This isozyme is present in chronic myelocytic leukemia, but is absent in acute myeloid and chronic lymphocytic leukemia as well as in established lymphoid lines. Acid maltase is almost completely extracted with water, whereas renal maltase is extracted only with Triton. From the results, it appears that for the diagnosis of alpha glucosidase deficiency, cells should be extracted in water and centrifuged before determination. Lymphocytes, which are devoid of renal maltase, are a better diagnostic material than are granulocytes.
The prenatal diagnosis of affected fetuses in two families at risk for mannosidosis gave us the opportunity to study the residual alpha-mannosidase activity. We found an altered acidic alpha-mannosidase characterized by lowered affinity toward the substrate, displacement of maximal activity toward pH 4-5, thermal lability, different migration in electrophoresis, and apparent change in molecular weight at alkaline pHs. The immunological properties seem unchanged since the enzyme was precipitated by an antiacidic alpha-mannosidase antiserum. The mutant enzyme instability, provoked by dialysis, and its reactivation after addition of dialysis fluid, suggests an association-dissociation phenomenon. We propose a possible hypothesis that a low molecular weight ligand is necessary to maintain the activity of the mutant enzyme.
The activity of lysosomal acid hydrolases was determined in five established lymphoid lines. Of four B cell lines three contained the EBV genome, and one was an EBV free Burkitt derived lymphoma line. The fifth was derived from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia expressing T cell characteristics. Ten enzymes were assayed in extracts from each cell line. Wide dispersions have been observed between the five lines. The activity level of most enzymes was lower in lymphoid lines than in leukocytes or fibroblasts, and in lines derived from pathological cells from normal cells.
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1. A search for lysosomal hydrolases and related enzymes has been made in hemolysates from human and rabbit red cells. Apart from acid phosphatases, significant activities were found only for alpha-mannosidase, neutral alpha-glucosidase and beta-hexosaminidase. 2. alpha-Mannosidase (alpha-D-mannoside mannohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.24) activity per cell in human red blood cells was 200-times lower than in white cells. The optimal pH was 5.5--6.0. Electrophoresis on cellulose acetate showed three bands. Hemolysates from four patients with mannosidosis were not deficient in alpha-mannosidase. pH activity curves and elctrophoretic pattern were similar to those of controls. From its biochemical and genetic properties, it is concluded that red cell mannosidase differs from the lysosomal acid mannosidase.
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Three pregnancies were monitored in two families at risk for mannosidosis, alpha mannosidase and alpha fucosidase were determined on extracts from white blood cells of several members of these families, on fibroblast cell lines from the index cases and on uncultured and cultured amniotic cells of the foetuses. Two foetuses were diagnosed as affected and one as being free from the disease. The conclusions were confirmed on the affected foetuses after interruption of the pregnancy. The noticeable residual activity of alpha mannosidase found in some fibroblasts and cultured amniotic cells required complementary investigations (heat lability and dependency of substrate concentration) to reach a reliable diagnosis. Invesitgation of uncultured amniotic cells may give useful additional information.
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A family (father and daughter) was found with a deficiency of hexosaminidase (HEX A and HEX B). Residual HEX A activity was about 30% of usual heterozygotes with very little HEX B activity. Thermostability of HEX A was decreased. No immunological cross reacting material was found for HEX A or B. The mechanism seems to be the production of abnormal, unstable beta subunits, which are still capable of combining with alpha subunits to form functional HEX A.