Rare inherited enzyme disorder yields insight into fibrosis

Newswise — (MEMPHIS, Tenn.—July 17, 2019) What can a family of rare inherited disorders teach scientists about more common health problems like fibrosis? Plenty, based on research led by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists that appears today in the journal Science Advances.

The investigators have discovered an association between a deficiency in the enzyme neuraminidase 1 (NEU1) and the build-up of connective tissue (fibrosis) in organs such as the muscle, kidney, liver, heart and lungs. Fibrosis includes life-threatening conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Mutations in the NEU1 gene cause the lysosomal storage disease sialidosis, which belongs to a large group of related pediatric diseases. “This is the first time NEU1 has been associated with fibrotic conditions,” said corresponding author Alessandra d’Azzo, Ph.D., a member and endowed chair of the St. Jude Department of Genetics. “NEU1 is an important enzyme that breaks down sugar-containing molecules in many cells of the body, but it has not really been on the radar for adult health problems.

“Based on these findings, it is tantalizing to hypothesize that NEU1 expression levels may help identify individuals at risk for fibrosis or inform their prognosis, particularly when information about the cause or possible treatment is lacking,” she said. Fibrosis results when excess connective tissue is produced and accumulates and disrupts normal function of the muscle, lungs, liver, heart and other tissues. Connective tissue is produced in part by fibroblast cells.

Early evidence The findings build on earlier research from d’Azzo’s laboratory. That work centered on mice that lacked the Neu1 gene. The mice developed muscle atrophy when connective tissue proliferated and invaded muscle.

In this study, researchers unraveled the underlying mechanism by showing that mouse fibroblasts lacking Neu1 proliferated, migrated and released large numbers of molecules that promoted the relentless expansion of connective tissue. “The cells started acting more like cancer cells,” d’Azzo said. She previously reported evidence about the potential role of NEU1 deficiency in cancer, particularly sarcomas, which are cancers of the connective tissue.

The researchers found that mouse fibroblasts lacking Neu1 release excessive numbers of molecules that degrade the extracellular matrix, as well as tiny vesicles (exosomes). The exosomes are loaded with factors that promote fibrosis, including the growth factor TGF-β and the signaling molecule WNT. Normal mouse and human fibroblasts cells were activated to proliferate and migrate when exposed to exosomes containing TGF-β, WNT and related molecules released by Neu1-deficient fibroblasts.

Human disease Researchers checked tissue from adults with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and found NEU1 production was significantly reduced (down-regulated) as compared to adults without the diagnosis. The investigators checked an RNA sequencing database of 89 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients and found NEU1 was among the most down-regulated of 66 genes included in the database.

The research puts NEU1 deficiency, which is associated with a pediatric catastrophic disease, squarely on the radar as a possible risk factor for development and progression of fibrotic diseases in adults for which the primary cause is unknown.

The findings also confirm d’Azzo’s belief that in-depth studies of rare pediatric diseases, such as the lysosomal storage disorders, often help to explain the disease mechanisms underlying disorders common in the aging population.

The first author is Diantha van de Vlekkert, of the d’Azzo laboratory. The other authors are Yvan Campos, Eda Machado, Ida Annunziata, Huimin Hu, Elida Gomero and Xiaohui Qiu, of St. Jude; Jeroen Demmers of Erasmus University Medical Center, Netherlands; Xinh-Xinh Nguyen and Carol Feghali-Bostwick of the Medical University of South Carolina; and Antonella Bongiovanni of the Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo Italy.

The research was funded in part by grants (GM104981, DK095169, CA021764) from the National Institutes of Health; the Assisi Foundation of Memphis; and ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization of St. Jude.

 St. Jude Media Relations Contacts Marvin Stockwell Desk: 901-595- 6384 Cell: 901-734-8766 [email protected] [email protected]

Michael Sheffield Desk: (901) 595-0221 Cell: (901) 379-6072 [email protected] [email protected]

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. To learn more, visit stjude.org or follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch.