title: Characterization of new arylsulfatase A gene mutations reinforces genotype-phenotype correlation in metachromatic leukodystrophy.
abstract: Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of Arylsulfatase A (ARSA). The disease manifests itself with a broad spectrum of clinical variants, all characterized by progressive neurodegeneration in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The correlation between mutations in the ARSA gene, residual enzymatic activity associated with the mutated alleles and patients' phenotype, which has been extensively drawn for common ARSA mutations, has recently been expanded to rare ones. In this context, functional studies on the rare allelic variances acquire particular relevance for patients' prognostic evaluation. Here we have characterized eight newly identified ARSA mutations, through lentiviral vector-based expression studies on cell lines and ARSA defective murine fibroblasts. In each case, the residual activity associated with the new mutant allele correlates well with the patient's phenotype. Therefore, our results confirm the importance of functional characterization of mutant alleles for a precise genotype-based classification and definition of prognosis in MLD patients, which is particularly relevant for pre-symptomatic diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cesani
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capotondo
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Plati
authors.forename: Lucia Sergi
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Sergi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Roncarolo
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Naldini
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biffi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002553:Cerebroside-Sulfatase / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007966:Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D002553:Cerebroside-Sulfatase