Biomaterial Database

Biochemical pathogenesis of genetic leukodystrophies: comparison of metachromatic leukodystrophy and globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe's disease). 1984

K Suzuki

Among the genetic leukodystrophies known to occur in man, the fundamental genetic defects have been clarified in two disorders, metachromatic leukodystrophy and globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe's disease). Nevertheless, the biochemical sequences with which the underlying genetic defects lead to the clinical and pathological features of the diseases and to disruption of the normal brain function are not well understood. Comparison of the two classical leukodystrophies provides us an opportunity to consider the biochemical pathogenesis of these disorders, some common between them and others apparently unique. That both metachromatic leukodystrophy and globoid cell leukodystrophy manifest themselves almost exclusively as diseases of the myelin sheath is relatively easy to understand because both are caused by genetic abnormalities in the metabolism of the characteristic constituents of myelin, sulfatide and galactosylceramide. The presence of the abnormal and characteristic globoid cells in the white matter of Krabbe's disease patients appears to be due to a unique property of galactosylceramide in that, when present in free form in the brain, it elicits infiltration of macrophages which transform themselves to globoid-like cells. No other lipids, including sulfatide, are known to induce similar tissue reactions. The most conspicuous difference between the two diseases is the presence or absence of abnormal accumulation of the substrates, the degradation of which is genetically blocked in the respective diseases. In metachromatic leukodystrophy, sulfatide accumulates to abnormally high levels, as logically expected for a "lysosomal storage disease". In Krabbe's disease, on the other hand, galactosylceramide is always much less than normal despite the genetic block in its catabolic pathway. This paradoxical finding can be explained by the "psychosine hypothesis".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007965	Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell	An autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of GALACTOSYLCERAMIDASE leading to intralysosomal accumulation of galactolipids such as GALACTOSYLCERAMIDES and PSYCHOSINE. It is characterized by demyelination associated with large multinucleated globoid cells, predominantly involving the white matter of the central nervous system. The loss of MYELIN disrupts normal conduction of nerve impulses.	Diffuse Globoid Body Sclerosis,Galactosylceramidase Deficiency Disease,Krabbe Disease,Classic Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy,Early-Onset Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy,GALC Deficiency,Galactocerebrosidase Deficiency,Galactosylceramide Lipidosis,Galactosylceramide beta-Galactosidase Deficiency,Galactosylceramide-beta-Galactosidase Deficiency Disease,Galactosylcerebrosidase Deficiency,Galactosylsphingosine Lipidosis,Globoid Body Sclerosis, Diffuse,Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy,Globoid Cell Leukoencephalopathy,Globoid Leukodystrophy,Infantile Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy,Krabbe Leukodystrophy,Krabbe's Disease,Krabbe's Leukodystrophy,Late-Onset Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy,Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell, Classic,Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell, Early-Onset,Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell, Infantile,Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell, Late-Onset,Psychosine Lipidosis,Cell Leukodystrophies, Globoid,Cell Leukodystrophy, Globoid,Cell Leukoencephalopathies, Globoid,Cell Leukoencephalopathy, Globoid,Deficiencies, GALC,Deficiencies, Galactocerebrosidase,Deficiencies, Galactosylceramide beta-Galactosidase,Deficiency Disease, Galactosylceramidase,Deficiency Disease, Galactosylceramide-beta-Galactosidase,Deficiency Diseases, Galactosylceramidase,Deficiency Diseases, Galactosylceramide-beta-Galactosidase,Deficiency, GALC,Deficiency, Galactocerebrosidase,Deficiency, Galactosylceramide beta-Galactosidase,Disease, Galactosylceramidase Deficiency,Disease, Galactosylceramide-beta-Galactosidase Deficiency,Diseases, Galactosylceramidase Deficiency,Diseases, Galactosylceramide-beta-Galactosidase Deficiency,Early Onset Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy,GALC Deficiencies,Galactocerebrosidase Deficiencies,Galactosylceramidase Deficiency Diseases,Galactosylceramide beta Galactosidase Deficiency,Galactosylceramide beta Galactosidase Deficiency Disease,Galactosylceramide beta-Galactosidase Deficiencies,Galactosylceramide-beta-Galactosidase Deficiency Diseases,Globoid Cell Leukodystrophies,Globoid Cell Leukoencephalopathies,Globoid Leukodystrophies,Krabbes Disease,Krabbes Leukodystrophy,Late Onset Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy,Leukodystrophies, Globoid,Leukodystrophies, Globoid Cell,Leukodystrophy, Globoid,Leukodystrophy, Krabbe,Leukodystrophy, Krabbe's,Leukoencephalopathies, Globoid Cell,Leukoencephalopathy, Globoid Cell,beta-Galactosidase Deficiencies, Galactosylceramide,beta-Galactosidase Deficiency, Galactosylceramide
D007966	Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic	An autosomal recessive metabolic disease caused by a deficiency of CEREBROSIDE-SULFATASE leading to intralysosomal accumulation of cerebroside sulfate (SULFOGLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS) in the nervous system and other organs. Pathological features include diffuse demyelination, and metachromatically-staining granules in many cell types such as the GLIAL CELLS. There are several allelic and nonallelic forms with a variety of neurological symptoms.	Arylsulfatase A Deficiency Disease,Cerebroside Sulphatase Deficiency Disease,ARSA Deficiency,Arylsulfatase A Deficiency,Cerebral sclerosis, Diffuse, Metachromatic Form,Cerebroside Sulfatase Deficiency,Greenfield Disease,Greenfield's Disease,Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic, Adult,Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic, Juvenile,Metachromatic Leukodystrophy,Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Adult,Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Adult-Type,Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Infant,Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Infant-Type,Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Juvenile,Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Juvenile-Type,Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Late Infantile,Metachromatic Leukoencephalopathy,Sulfatide Lipidosis,ARSA Deficiencies,Adult Metachromatic Leukodystrophies,Adult Metachromatic Leukodystrophy,Adult-Type Metachromatic Leukodystrophies,Adult-Type Metachromatic Leukodystrophy,Arylsulfatase A Deficiencies,Cerebroside Sulfatase Deficiencies,Deficiencies, ARSA,Deficiencies, Arylsulfatase A,Deficiencies, Cerebroside Sulfatase,Deficiency, ARSA,Deficiency, Arylsulfatase A,Deficiency, Cerebroside Sulfatase,Infant Metachromatic Leukodystrophies,Infant Metachromatic Leukodystrophy,Infant-Type Metachromatic Leukodystrophies,Infant-Type Metachromatic Leukodystrophy,Juvenile Metachromatic Leukodystrophies,Juvenile Metachromatic Leukodystrophy,Juvenile-Type Metachromatic Leukodystrophies,Juvenile-Type Metachromatic Leukodystrophy,Leukodystrophies, Adult Metachromatic,Leukodystrophies, Adult-Type Metachromatic,Leukodystrophies, Juvenile Metachromatic,Leukodystrophies, Juvenile-Type Metachromatic,Leukodystrophies, Metachromatic,Leukodystrophy, Adult Metachromatic,Leukodystrophy, Adult-Type Metachromatic,Leukodystrophy, Juvenile Metachromatic,Leukodystrophy, Juvenile-Type Metachromatic,Leukoencephalopathies, Metachromatic,Leukoencephalopathy, Metachromatic,Lipidosis, Sulfatide,Metachromatic Leukodystrophies,Metachromatic Leukodystrophies, Adult,Metachromatic Leukodystrophies, Adult-Type,Metachromatic Leukodystrophies, Infant,Metachromatic Leukodystrophies, Infant-Type,Metachromatic Leukodystrophies, Juvenile,Metachromatic Leukodystrophies, Juvenile-Type,Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Adult Type,Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Infant Type,Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Juvenile Type,Metachromatic Leukoencephalopathies,Sulfatase Deficiencies, Cerebroside,Sulfatase Deficiency, Cerebroside
D009186	Myelin Sheath	The lipid-rich sheath surrounding AXONS in both the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS and PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. The myelin sheath is an electrical insulator and allows faster and more energetically efficient conduction of impulses. The sheath is formed by the cell membranes of glial cells (SCHWANN CELLS in the peripheral and OLIGODENDROGLIA in the central nervous system). Deterioration of the sheath in DEMYELINATING DISEASES is a serious clinical problem.	Myelin,Myelin Sheaths,Sheath, Myelin,Sheaths, Myelin
D009836	Oligodendroglia	A class of large neuroglial (macroglial) cells in the central nervous system. Oligodendroglia may be called interfascicular, perivascular, or perineuronal (not the same as SATELLITE CELLS, PERINEURONAL of GANGLIA) according to their location. They form the insulating MYELIN SHEATH of axons in the central nervous system.	Interfascicular Oligodendroglia,Oligodendrocytes,Perineuronal Oligodendroglia,Perineuronal Satellite Oligodendroglia Cells,Perivascular Oligodendroglia,Satellite Cells, Perineuronal, Oligodendroglia,Perineuronal Satellite Oligodendrocytes,Interfascicular Oligodendroglias,Oligodendrocyte,Oligodendrocyte, Perineuronal Satellite,Oligodendrocytes, Perineuronal Satellite,Oligodendroglia, Interfascicular,Oligodendroglia, Perineuronal,Oligodendroglia, Perivascular,Perineuronal Satellite Oligodendrocyte,Satellite Oligodendrocyte, Perineuronal,Satellite Oligodendrocytes, Perineuronal
D011609	Psychosine	An intermediate in the biosynthesis of cerebrosides. It is formed by reaction of sphingosine with UDP-galactose and then itself reacts with fatty acid-Coenzyme A to form the cerebroside.	Galactosylsphingosine,Sphingosine Galactoside,Galactoside, Sphingosine
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D002549	Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis of Schilder	A rare central nervous system demyelinating condition affecting children and young adults. Pathologic findings include a large, sharply defined, asymmetric focus of myelin destruction that may involve an entire lobe or cerebral hemisphere. The clinical course tends to be progressive and includes dementia, cortical blindness, cortical deafness, spastic hemiplegia, and pseudobulbar palsy. Concentric sclerosis of Balo is differentiated from diffuse cerebral sclerosis of Schilder by the pathologic finding of alternating bands of destruction and preservation of myelin in concentric rings. Alpers' Syndrome refers to a heterogeneous group of diseases that feature progressive cerebral deterioration and liver disease. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p914; Dev Neurosci 1991;13(4-5):267-73)	Alpers Syndrome,Balo Concentric Sclerosis,Cerebral Sclerosis, Diffuse,Encephalitis Periaxialis,Myelinoclastic Diffuse Sclerosis,Poliodystrophia Cerebri,Schilder Disease,Alpers Diffuse Degeneration of Cerebral Gray Matter with Hepatic Cirrhosis,Alpers Disease,Alpers Progressive Infantile Poliodystrophy,Alpers' Disease,Alpers' Syndrome,Alpers-Huttenlocher Syndrome,Balo's Concentric Sclerosis,Encephalitis Periaxialis Concentrica,Encephalitis Periaxialis Diffusa,Neuronal Degeneration Of Childhood With Liver Disease, Progressive,Progressive Neuronal Degeneration of Childhood with Liver Disease,Progressive Sclerosing Poliodystrophy,Schilder's Disease,Sudanophilic Cerebral Sclerosis,Alper Disease,Alper Syndrome,Alper's Disease,Alper's Syndrome,Alpers Huttenlocher Syndrome,Concentric Sclerosis, Balo,Concentric Sclerosis, Balo's,Diffuse Cerebral Scleroses,Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis,Diffuse Scleroses, Myelinoclastic,Diffuse Sclerosis, Myelinoclastic,Disease, Alpers',Disease, Schilder,Disease, Schilder's,Myelinoclastic Diffuse Scleroses,Progressive Sclerosing Poliodystrophies,Schilders Disease,Scleroses, Balo's Concentric,Scleroses, Myelinoclastic Diffuse,Sclerosis, Diffuse Cerebral,Sclerosis, Myelinoclastic Diffuse,Syndrome, Alpers,Syndrome, Alpers-Huttenlocher
D002553	Cerebroside-Sulfatase	An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of cerebroside 3-sulfate (sulfatide) to yield a cerebroside and inorganic sulfate. A marked deficiency of arylsulfatase A, which is considered the heat-labile component of cerebroside sulfatase, has been demonstrated in all forms of metachromatic leukodystrophy (LEUKODYSTROPHY, METACHROMATIC). EC 3.1.6.8.	Arylsulfatase A,Sulfatidate Sulfatase,Cerebroside Sulfatase,Sulfatase, Sulfatidate
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D005698	Galactosylceramidase	An enzyme that hydrolyzes galactose from ceramide monohexosides. Deficiency of this enzyme may cause globoid cell leukodystrophy (LEUKODYSTROPHY, GLOBOID CELL). EC 3.2.1.46.	Galactocerebrosidase,Galactosylceramide Galactosidase,Galactosylceramide beta-Galactosidase,Galactosylcerebroside beta-Galactosidase,Galactosidase, Galactosylceramide,beta-Galactosidase, Galactosylceramide,beta-Galactosidase, Galactosylcerebroside