Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.2.1.21 (beta-glucosidase)
 3,280 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Diagnostic difficulties of Gaucher disease, a disorder resulted from a deficient activity of glucocerebrosidase is reported. Gaucher disease was described in the 16 year old male, 5 years after manifestation of the very first symptoms (fracture and osteomyelitis). At the age of 14, the cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis accompanied with splenomegaly was diagnosed. This findings was not associated with the earlier osseous disorders. Histopathologic examination of the removed spleen facilitate the diagnosis. The second case refers to 20 year old female. Clinical symptoms and additional test pointed to malignant neoplasm of thyroid, the reproductive organs or cancer of indistinguishable primary focus with metastases in the liver. Trepanobiopsy of bone marrow had made an accurate diagnosis possible, while determination of beta-glucosidase activity in peripheral white blood cells, chitotriosidase activity, and molecular investigations of gene specific to beta-glucocerebrosidase proved it.
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PMID:[Diagnostic difficulties in Gaucher disease: report of two cases]. 1033 43

The non-random association of Gaucher disease with polyclonal and monoclonal gammopathy has been known since 1950. The effect of treatment on monoclonal gammopathy is not well documented. We report on the long-term evolution of a biclonal gammopathy in a patient with type I Gaucher disease who was treated with splenectomy and enzyme replacement therapy. A 44-year-old man presented with hepatomegaly and massive splenomegaly. Bone marrow aspirate contained typical Gaucher cells and beta-glucosidase was low in peripheral blood leukocytes. Mutations N370S and R120W were detected. Serum protein electrophoresis disclosed two spikes in gammaglobulins. Immunofixation identified two monoclonal components: IgG kappa and IgA kappa. Gammaglobulin concentration was 31.6 g/L. A splenectomy was performed on September 2003 because of massive splenomegaly (9500 g). Two months after the splenectomy, gammaglobulin concentration was 25.2 g/L. Enzyme replacement therapy (Cerezyme 45 UI/kg every two weeks) was prescribed from April 2004 because of significant hepatomegaly and cholestasis. In April 2007 (3 years after the beginning of treatment), serum electrophoresis showed the persistence of two spikes with gammaglobulin concentration at 20.5 g/L. Simultaneously, chitotriosidase activity decreased from 6181 to 2877 nkat/L. Our observation and previous reports suggest that enzyme replacement therapy is more effective in polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia than in monoclonal gammopathy.
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PMID:Effect of treatment on biclonal gammopathy associated with Gaucher disease. 1787 46

Gaucher disease is generally caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase. The degradation of glycosphingolipids requires also the participation of sphingolipid activator proteins. The prosaposin PSAP gene codes for a single protein which undergoes post-translational cleavage to yield four proteins named saposins A, B, C and D. Saposin (SAP-) C is required for glucosylceramide degradation, and its deficiency results in a variant form of Gaucher disease. In this report, we present clinical, biochemical, and molecular findings in a 36-year-old man and his 30-year-old sister with non-neuronopathic Gaucher disease due to SAP-C deficiency. Very high levels of chitotriosidase activity, chemokine CCL18, and increased concentration of glucosylceramide in plasma and normal beta-glucosidase activity in skin fibroblasts were observed in the patients. A molecular genetics study of the PSAP gene enabled the identification of one missense mutation, p.L349P, located in the SAP-C domain and another mutation, p.M1L, located in the initiation codon of the prosaposin precursor protein. The presented findings describe the first cases where the non-neuronopathic Gaucher disease has been definitely demonstrated to be a consequence of SAP-C deficiency. Three previously described cases in the literature displayed a Gaucher type 3 phenotype.
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PMID:Non-neuronopathic Gaucher disease due to saposin C deficiency. 1791 9

Gaucher's disease (GD) is an inborn error of metabolism of the lysosomal enzyme beta-glucosidase, which induces the deposition of undegraded glycolipid material in organs rich in mononuclear macrophage system including liver, spleen and bone marrow. Beta-glucosidase is suspected in patients with evidence of liver and/or spleen enlargement, anemia and/or thrombocytopenia not attributable to other causes, or bone crisis especially in children. In scarce cases GD is associated with neurological involvement. The diagnosis confirmation is performed by analysis of beta-glucosidase activity in peripheral blood leukocytes or fibroblasts. It is necessary to identify genetic mutations that cause GD. It is also advisable to identify biomarkers including chitotriosidase activity and plasma CCL-18/PARC concentration. The use of a protocol for assessing the intensity of the deposit is mandatory to establish the indication for treatment, especially in rare diseases. Nowadays there are several options for treatment of GD: enzyme replacement therapy and substrate reduction therapy. Regular assessments are needed to establish the response and the degree of achievement of the therapeutic goals recommended through expert consensus.
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PMID:[Guidelines for type 1 Gaucher's disease]. 2223 Jan 28