Differential distribution of heparan sulfate glycoforms and elevated expression of heparan sulfate biosynthetic enzyme genes in the brain of mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB mice

Metab Brain Dis. 2011 Mar;26(1):9-19. doi: 10.1007/s11011-010-9230-x. Epub 2011 Jan 12.

Abstract

The primary pathology in mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IIIB is lysosomal storage of heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycans, leading to complex neuropathology and dysfunction, for which the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Using antibodies that recognize specific HS glycoforms, we demonstrate differential cell-specific and domain-specific lysosomal HS-GAG distribution in MPS IIIB mouse brain. We also describe a novel neuron-specific brain HS epitope with broad, non-specific increase in the expression in all neurons in MPS IIIB mouse brain, including cerebellar granule neurons, which do not exhibit lysosomal storage pathology. This suggests that biosynthesis of certain HS glycoforms is enhanced throughout the CNS of MPS IIIB mice. Such a conclusion is further supported by demonstration of increased expression of multiple genes encoding enzymes essential in HS biosynthesis, including HS sulfotransferases and epimerases, as well as FGFs, for which HS serves as a co-receptor, in MPS IIIB brain. These data suggest that lysosomal storage of HS may lead to the increase in HS biosyntheses, which may contribute to the neuropathology of MPS IIIB by exacerbating the lysosomal HS storage.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain* / enzymology
  • Brain* / pathology
  • Carbohydrate Epimerases / genetics
  • Carbohydrate Epimerases / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / genetics
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Heparitin Sulfate / biosynthesis*
  • Lysosomes / metabolism*
  • Lysosomes / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mucopolysaccharidosis III* / enzymology
  • Mucopolysaccharidosis III* / genetics
  • Mucopolysaccharidosis III* / pathology
  • Neurons / enzymology
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Protein Isoforms / analysis
  • Sulfotransferases / genetics
  • Sulfotransferases / metabolism
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Heparitin Sulfate
  • Sulfotransferases
  • Carbohydrate Epimerases