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Furderer ML, Berhe B, Chen TC, Wincovitch S, Jiang X, Tayebi N, Sidransky E, Han TU. A Comparative Biochemical and Pathological Evaluation of Brain Samples from Knock-In Murine Models of Gaucher Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1827. [PMID: 38339105 PMCID: PMC10855869 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Gaucher disease (GD) is a lysosomal storage disorder stemming from biallelic mutations in GBA1, characterized by glucocerebrosidase dysfunction and glucocerebroside and glucosylsphingosine accumulation. Since phenotypes of murine models of GD often differ from those in patients, the careful characterization of Gba1 mutant mice is necessary to establish their ability to model GD. We performed side-by-side comparative biochemical and pathologic analyses of four murine Gba1 models with genotypes L444P/L444P (p.L483P/p.L483P), L444P/null, D409H/D409H (p.D448H/p.D448H) and D409H/null, along with matched wildtype mice, all with the same genetic background and cage conditions. All mutant mice exhibited significantly lower glucocerebrosidase activity (p < 0.0001) and higher glucosylsphingosine levels than wildtype, with the lowest glucocerebrosidase and the highest glucosylsphingosine levels in mice carrying a null allele. Although glucocerebrosidase activity in L444P and D409H mice was similar, D409H mice showed more lipid accumulation. No Gaucher or storage-like cells were detected in any of the Gba1 mutant mice. Quantification of neuroinflammation, dopaminergic neuronal loss, alpha-synuclein levels and motor behavior revealed no significant findings, even in aged animals. Thus, while the models may have utility for testing the effect of different therapies on enzymatic activity, they did not recapitulate the pathological phenotype of patients with GD, and better models are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makaila L. Furderer
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.L.F.); (B.B.); (T.C.C.); (N.T.)
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Bahafta Berhe
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.L.F.); (B.B.); (T.C.C.); (N.T.)
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Tiffany C. Chen
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.L.F.); (B.B.); (T.C.C.); (N.T.)
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Stephen Wincovitch
- Advanced Imaging & Analysis Core, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Xuntian Jiang
- Washington University Metabolomics Facility, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA;
| | - Nahid Tayebi
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.L.F.); (B.B.); (T.C.C.); (N.T.)
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Ellen Sidransky
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.L.F.); (B.B.); (T.C.C.); (N.T.)
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Tae-Un Han
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.L.F.); (B.B.); (T.C.C.); (N.T.)
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
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2
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Bradbury AM, Bagel J, Swain G, Miyadera K, Pesayco JP, Assenmacher CA, Brisson B, Hendricks I, Wang XH, Herbst Z, Pyne N, Odonnell P, Shelton GD, Gelb M, Hackett N, Szabolcs P, Vite CH, Escolar M. Combination HSCT and intravenous AAV-mediated gene therapy in a canine model proves pivotal for translation of Krabbe disease therapy. Mol Ther 2024; 32:44-58. [PMID: 37952085 PMCID: PMC10787152 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only approved treatment for presymptomatic infantile globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD [Krabbe disease]). However, correction of disease is not complete, and outcomes remain poor. Herein we evaluated HSCT, intravenous (IV) adeno-associated virus rh10 vector (AAVrh10) gene therapy, and combination HSCT + IV AAVrh10 in the canine model of GLD. While HSCT alone resulted in no increase in survival as compared with untreated GLD dogs (∼16 weeks of age), combination HSCT + IV AAVrh10 at a dose of 4E13 genome copies (gc)/kg resulted in delayed disease progression and increased survival beyond 1 year of age. A 5-fold increase in AAVrh10 dose to 2E14 gc/kg, in combination with HSCT, normalized neurological dysfunction up to 2 years of age. IV AAVrh10 alone resulted in an average survival to 41.2 weeks of age. In the peripheral nervous system, IV AAVrh10 alone or in addition to HSCT normalized nerve conduction velocity, improved ultrastructure, and normalized GALC enzyme activity and psychosine concentration. In the central nervous system, only combination therapy at the highest dose was able to restore galactosylceramidase activity and psychosine concentrations to within the normal range. These data have now guided clinical translation of systemic AAV gene therapy as an addition to HSCT (NCT04693598, NCT05739643).
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Bradbury
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43215, USA.
| | - Jessica Bagel
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Gary Swain
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Keiko Miyadera
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jill P Pesayco
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92161, USA
| | - Charles-Antoine Assenmacher
- Comparative Pathology Core, Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Becky Brisson
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ian Hendricks
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Xiao H Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Zachary Herbst
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Nettie Pyne
- Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Patricia Odonnell
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - G Diane Shelton
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92161, USA
| | - Michael Gelb
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Neil Hackett
- Neil Hackett Consulting, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Paul Szabolcs
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92161, USA
| | - Charles H Vite
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Maria Escolar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA; Forge Biologics, Grove City, OH 43123, USA
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Sutter PA, Ménoret A, Jellison ER, Nicaise AM, Bradbury AM, Vella AT, Bongarzone ER, Crocker SJ. CD8+ T cell depletion prevents neuropathology in a mouse model of globoid cell leukodystrophy. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20221862. [PMID: 37310382 PMCID: PMC10266545 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) or Krabbe's disease is a fatal genetic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by loss-of-function mutations in the galactosylceramidase (galc) gene. While the metabolic basis for disease is known, the understanding of how this results in neuropathology is not well understood. Herein, we report that the rapid and protracted elevation of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes occurs coincident with clinical disease in a mouse model of GLD. Administration of a function-blocking antibody against CD8α effectively prevented disease onset, reduced morbidity and mortality, and prevented CNS demyelination in mice. These data indicate that subsequent to the genetic cause of disease, neuropathology is driven by pathogenic CD8+ T cells, thus offering novel therapeutic potential for treatment of GLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pearl A. Sutter
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Antoine Ménoret
- Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Evan R. Jellison
- Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Alexandra M. Nicaise
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience and National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Allison M. Bradbury
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Anthony T. Vella
- Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Ernesto R. Bongarzone
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Stephen J. Crocker
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
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Hammack S, Hague DW, Vieson MD, Esdaile E, Hughes SS, Bellone RR, McCoy AM. Novel genetic variant associated with globoid cell leukodystrophy in a family of mixed breed dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2023; 37:1710-1715. [PMID: 37593836 PMCID: PMC10473001 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GCL) is a fatal autosomal recessive disease caused by variants in the galactosylceramidase (GALC) gene. Two dog breed-specific variants are reported. OBJECTIVES Characterize the putatively causative GALC variant for GCL in a family of dogs and determine population allele frequency. ANIMALS Four related mixed-breed puppies with signs of neurologic disease were evaluated. Subsequently, 33 related dogs were tested for genetic markers for parentage and the identified GALC variant. Additional GALC genotyping was performed on 278 banked samples from various breeds. METHODS The 4 affected puppies had neurological exams and necropsies. DNA was isolated from blood samples. Variants in GALC were identified via Sanger sequencing. Parentage testing was performed using short tandem repeat markers. Prevalence of the GALC variant of interest was investigated in other breeds. RESULTS GCL was confirmed histopathologically. A novel missense variant in GALC (NC_006590.4:g.58893972G>A) was homozygous in all affected animals (n = 4). A recessive mode of inheritance was confirmed by parentage testing as was variant linkage with the phenotype (LOD = 3.36). Among the related dogs (n = 33), 3 dogs were homozygous and 7 heterozygous. The variant allele was not detected in screening 278 dogs from 5 breeds. The novel variant is either unique to this family or has an extremely low allele frequency in the general population. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE A novel GALC variant was identified that likely explains GCL in this cohort. The identification of multiple causal variants for GCL in dogs is consistent with findings in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Hammack
- Department of Comparative BiosciencesUniversity of IllinoisUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Devon Wallis Hague
- Department of Veterinary Clinical MedicineUniversity of IllinoisUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | | | - Elizabeth Esdaile
- Veterinary Genetics LaboratoryUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Shayne S. Hughes
- Veterinary Genetics LaboratoryUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Rebecca R. Bellone
- Veterinary Genetics LaboratoryUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Annette M. McCoy
- Department of Comparative BiosciencesUniversity of IllinoisUrbanaIllinoisUSA
- Department of Veterinary Clinical MedicineUniversity of IllinoisUrbanaIllinoisUSA
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Jackson MI, Jewell DE. Feeding of fish oil and medium-chain triglycerides to canines impacts circulating structural and energetic lipids, endocannabinoids, and non-lipid metabolite profiles. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1168703. [PMID: 37691632 PMCID: PMC10484482 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1168703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The effect of medium-chain fatty acid-containing triglycerides (MCT), long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing triglycerides from fish oil (FO), and their combination (FO+MCT) on the serum metabolome of dogs (Canis familiaris) was evaluated. Methods Dogs (N = 64) were randomized to either a control food, one with 7% MCT, one with FO (0.18% eicosapentaenoate and 1.3% docosahexaenoate), or one with FO+MCT for 28 days following a 14-day washout period on the control food. Serum metabolites were analyzed via chromatography followed by mass spectrometry. Results Additive effects of serum metabolites were observed for a number of metabolite classes, including fatty acids, phospholipids, acylated amines including endocannabinoids, alpha-oxidized fatty acids, and methyl donors. Some effects of the addition of FO+MCT were different when the oils were combined compared with when each oil was fed separately, namely for acylcarnitines, omega-oxidized dicarboxylic acids, and amino acids. Several potentially beneficial effects on health were observed, including decreased circulating triglycerides and total cholesterol with the addition of FO (with or without MCT) and decreases in N-acyl taurines with the addition of MCT, FO, or FO+MCT. Discussion Overall, the results of this study provide a phenotypic characterization of the serum lipidomic response to dietary supplementation of long-chain n3-polyunsaturated and medium-chain saturated fats in canines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew I. Jackson
- Pet Nutrition Center, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., Topeka, KS, United States
| | - Dennis E. Jewell
- Pet Nutrition Center, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., Topeka, KS, United States
- Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
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Zandl-Lang M, Plecko B, Köfeler H. Lipidomics-Paving the Road towards Better Insight and Precision Medicine in Rare Metabolic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021709. [PMID: 36675224 PMCID: PMC9866746 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Even though the application of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) has significantly facilitated the identification of disease-associated mutations, the diagnostic rate of rare diseases is still below 50%. This causes a diagnostic odyssey and prevents specific treatment, as well as genetic counseling for further family planning. Increasing the diagnostic rate and reducing the time to diagnosis in children with unclear disease are crucial for a better patient outcome and improvement of quality of life. In many cases, NGS reveals variants of unknown significance (VUS) that need further investigations. The delineation of novel (lipid) biomarkers is not only crucial to prove the pathogenicity of VUS, but provides surrogate parameters for the monitoring of disease progression and therapeutic interventions. Lipids are essential organic compounds in living organisms, serving as building blocks for cellular membranes, energy storage and signaling molecules. Among other disorders, an imbalance in lipid homeostasis can lead to chronic inflammation, vascular dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, analyzing lipids in biological samples provides great insight into the underlying functional role of lipids in healthy and disease statuses. The method of choice for lipid analysis and/or huge assemblies of lipids (=lipidome) is mass spectrometry due to its high sensitivity and specificity. Due to the inherent chemical complexity of the lipidome and the consequent challenges associated with analyzing it, progress in the field of lipidomics has lagged behind other omics disciplines. However, compared to the previous decade, the output of publications on lipidomics has increased more than 17-fold within the last decade and has, therefore, become one of the fastest-growing research fields. Combining multiple omics approaches will provide a unique and efficient tool for determining pathogenicity of VUS at the functional level, and thereby identifying rare, as well as novel, genetic disorders by molecular techniques and biochemical analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Zandl-Lang
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Barbara Plecko
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Harald Köfeler
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, ZMF, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
- Correspondence:
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Mutoh T, Niimi Y, Ito S, Akiyama H, Shiroki R, Hirabayashi Y, Hoshinaga K. A pilot study assessing sphingolipids and glycolipids dysmetabolism in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 639:84-90. [PMID: 36473311 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.11.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus usually exhibits triad of symptoms including gait disturbance, urinary incontinence, and dementia with ventriculomegaly. Currently, its pathogenesis remains to be fully elucidated. To provide a better understanding of this order, we examined whether dysmetabolism of sphingolipids as major lipid components in the brain present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the patients. Here, we measured various sphingolipidsincluding ceramide and sphingomyelin and glycolipids by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry in the cerebrospinal fluid of 19 consecutive idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus patients, 49 Parkinson's disease patients, and 17 neurologically normal controls. The data showed that there was a significant and specific reduction of all galactosylceramide subspecies levels in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus patients compared with other groups, whereas ceramide and sphingomyelin levels as well as other neutral glycolipids such as glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide were similar in both disease states. Multiple regression analysis of sex and age did not show any correlation with galactosylceramide levels. We also examined whether MMSE scores are correlated with sphingolipid levels in iNPH patients. A specific subspecies of sphingomyelin (d18:1/18:0) only exhibited a statistically significant negative correlation (p = 0.0473, R = -0.4604) with MMSE scores but no other sphingolipids in iNPH patients. These data strongly suggest that myelin-rich galactosylceramide metabolism is severely impaired in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus patients and might serve as the basis of biomarker for this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuro Mutoh
- Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University Hospital, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.
| | - Yoshiki Niimi
- Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University Hospital, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shinji Ito
- Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University Hospital, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hisako Akiyama
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan; Juntendo Institute for Health Science, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Shiroki
- Department of Urology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | | | - Kiyotaka Hoshinaga
- Department of Urology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
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Human iPSC-derived astrocytes generated from donors with globoid cell leukodystrophy display phenotypes associated with disease. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271360. [PMID: 35921286 PMCID: PMC9348679 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease) is a fatal neurodegenerative, demyelinating disease caused by dysfunctional activity of galactosylceramidase (GALC), leading to the accumulation of glycosphingolipids including psychosine. While oligodendrocytes have been extensively studied due to their high levels of GALC, the contribution of astrocytes to disease pathogenesis remains to be fully elucidated. In the current study, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from two donors with infantile onset Krabbe disease and differentiated them into cultures of astrocytes. Krabbe astrocytes recapitulated many key findings observed in humans and rodent models of the disease, including the accumulation of psychosine and elevated expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Unexpectedly, Krabbe astrocytes had higher levels of glucosylceramide and ceramide, and displayed compensatory changes in genes encoding glycosphingolipid biosynthetic enzymes, suggesting a shunting away from the galactosylceramide and psychosine pathway. In co-culture, Krabbe astrocytes negatively impacted the survival of iPSC-derived human neurons while enhancing survival of iPSC-derived human microglia. Substrate reduction approaches targeting either glucosylceramide synthase or serine palmitoyltransferase to reduce the sphingolipids elevated in Krabbe astrocytes failed to rescue their detrimental impact on neuron survival. Our results suggest that astrocytes may contribute to the progression of Krabbe disease and warrant further exploration into their role as therapeutic targets.
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Papini N, Giallanza C, Brioschi L, Ranieri FR, Giussani P, Mauri L, Ciampa MG, Viani P, Tringali C. Galactocerebrosidase deficiency induces an increase in lactosylceramide content: A new hallmark of Krabbe disease? Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2022; 145:106184. [PMID: 35217188 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2022.106184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Galactocerebrosidase (GALC) hydrolyses galactose residues from various substrates, including galactosylceramide, psychosine (galactosylsphingosine), and lactosylceramide. Its severe deficiency has been associated with the accumulation of psychosine, a toxic molecule with detergent-like features, which alters membrane structures and signalling pathways, inducing the death of oligodendrocytes and a sequence of events in the nervous system that explain the appearance of many clinical signs typical of Krabbe disease. Nevertheless, new evidence suggests the existence of other possible links among GALC action, myelination, and myelin stability, apart from psychosine release. In this study, we demonstrated that lactosylceramide metabolism is impaired in fibroblasts isolated from patients with Krabbe disease in the absence of psychosine accumulation. This event is responsible for the aberrant and constitutive activation of the AKT/prolin-rich AKT substrate of 40 kDa (PRAS40) signalling axis, inducing B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) overexpression and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) inhibition. In addition, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) showed increased nuclear translocation. Due to the relevance of these molecular alterations in neurodegeneration, lactosylceramide increase should be evaluated as a novel marker of Krabbe disease, and because of its significant connections with signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Papini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Chiara Giallanza
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Loredana Brioschi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Francesca Romana Ranieri
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Paola Giussani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Laura Mauri
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Ciampa
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Paola Viani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Cristina Tringali
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate, MI, Italy.
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Hordeaux J, Jeffrey BA, Jian J, Choudhury GR, Michalson K, Mitchell TW, Buza EL, Chichester J, Dyer C, Bagel J, Vite CH, Bradbury AM, Wilson JM. Efficacy and Safety of a Krabbe Disease Gene Therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:499-517. [PMID: 35333110 PMCID: PMC9142772 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Krabbe disease is a lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the gene that encodes galactosylceramidase, in which galactosylsphingosine (psychosine) accumulation drives demyelination in the central and peripheral nervous systems, ultimately progressing to death in early childhood. Gene therapy, alone or in combination with transplant, has been developed for almost two decades in mouse models, with increasing therapeutic benefit paralleling the improvement of next-generation adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. This effort has recently shown remarkable efficacy in the canine model of the disease by two different groups that used either systemic or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) administration of AAVrh10 or AAV9. Building on our experience developing CSF-delivered, AAV-based drug products for a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, we conducted efficacy, pharmacology, and safety studies of AAVhu68 delivered to the CSF in two relevant natural Krabbe animal models, and in nonhuman primates. In newborn Twitcher mice, the highest dose (1 × 1011 genome copies [GC]) of AAVhu68.hGALC injected into the lateral ventricle led to a median survival of 130 days compared to 40.5 days in vehicle-treated mice. When this dose was administered intravenously, the median survival was 49 days. A single intracisterna magna injection of AAVhu68.cGALC at 3 × 1013 GC into presymptomatic Krabbe dogs increased survival for up to 85 weeks compared to 12 weeks in controls. It prevented psychosine accumulation in the CSF, preserved peripheral nerve myelination, ambulation, and decreased brain neuroinflammation and demyelination, although some regions remained abnormal. In a Good Laboratory Practice-compliant toxicology study, we administered the clinical candidate into the cisterna magna of 18 juvenile rhesus macaques at 3 doses that displayed efficacy in mice. We observed no dose-limiting toxicity and sporadic minimal degeneration of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. Our studies demonstrate the efficacy, scalability, and safety of a single cisterna magna AAVhu68 administration to treat Krabbe disease. ClinicalTrials.Gov ID: NCT04771416.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Hordeaux
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brianne A Jeffrey
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jinlong Jian
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Gourav R Choudhury
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kristofer Michalson
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Thomas W Mitchell
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Buza
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica Chichester
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Cecilia Dyer
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica Bagel
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Charles H Vite
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Allison M Bradbury
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James M Wilson
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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11
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Nasir G, Chopra R, Elwood F, Ahmed SS. Krabbe Disease: Prospects of Finding a Cure Using AAV Gene Therapy. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:760236. [PMID: 34869463 PMCID: PMC8633897 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.760236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Krabbe Disease (KD) is an autosomal metabolic disorder that affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems. It is caused by a functional deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, galactocerebrosidase (GALC), resulting in an accumulation of the toxic metabolite, psychosine. Psychosine accumulation affects many different cellular pathways, leading to severe demyelination. Although there is currently no effective therapy for Krabbe disease, recent gene therapy-based approaches in animal models have indicated a promising outlook for clinical treatment. This review highlights recent findings in the pathogenesis of Krabbe disease, and evaluates AAV-based gene therapy as a promising strategy for treating this devastating pediatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gibran Nasir
- Department of Neuroscience, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Rajiv Chopra
- AllianThera Biopharma, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Fiona Elwood
- Department of Neuroscience, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Seemin S Ahmed
- Department of Neuroscience, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), Cambridge, MA, United States
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12
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Feltri ML, Weinstock NI, Favret J, Dhimal N, Wrabetz L, Shin D. Mechanisms of demyelination and neurodegeneration in globoid cell leukodystrophy. Glia 2021; 69:2309-2331. [PMID: 33851745 PMCID: PMC8502241 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD), also known as Krabbe disease, is a lysosomal storage disorder causing extensive demyelination in the central and peripheral nervous systems. GLD is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the lysosomal hydrolase, galactosylceramidase (GALC), which catabolizes the myelin sphingolipid galactosylceramide. The pathophysiology of GLD is complex and reflects the expression of GALC in a number of glial and neural cell types in both the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS), as well as leukocytes and kidney in the periphery. Over the years, GLD has garnered a wide range of scientific and medical interests, especially as a model system to study gene therapy and novel preclinical therapeutic approaches to treat the spontaneous murine model for GLD. Here, we review recent findings in the field of Krabbe disease, with particular emphasis on novel aspects of GALC physiology, GLD pathophysiology, and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Laura Feltri
- Hunter James Kelly Research Institute, Buffalo, New York
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
- Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Nadav I. Weinstock
- Hunter James Kelly Research Institute, Buffalo, New York
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Jacob Favret
- Hunter James Kelly Research Institute, Buffalo, New York
- Biotechnical and Clinical Lab Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Narayan Dhimal
- Hunter James Kelly Research Institute, Buffalo, New York
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Lawrence Wrabetz
- Hunter James Kelly Research Institute, Buffalo, New York
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
- Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Daesung Shin
- Hunter James Kelly Research Institute, Buffalo, New York
- Biotechnical and Clinical Lab Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
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13
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Bradbury AM, Bongarzone ER, Sands MS. Krabbe disease: New hope for an old disease. Neurosci Lett 2021; 752:135841. [PMID: 33766733 PMCID: PMC8802533 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Krabbe disease (globoid cell leukodystrophy) is a lysosomal storage disease (LSD) characterized by progressive and profound demyelination. Infantile, juvenile and adult-onset forms of Krabbe disease have been described, with infantile being the most common. Children with an infantile-onset generally appear normal at birth but begin to miss developmental milestones by six months of age and die by two to four years of age. Krabbe disease is caused by a deficiency of the acid hydrolase galactosylceramidase (GALC) which is responsible for the degradation of galactosylceramides and sphingolipids, which are abundant in myelin membranes. The absence of GALC leads to the toxic accumulation of galactosylsphingosine (psychosine), a lysoderivative of galactosylceramides, in oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells resulting in demyelination of the central and peripheral nervous systems, respectively. Treatment strategies such as enzyme replacement, substrate reduction, enzyme chaperones, and gene therapy have shown promise in LSDs. Unfortunately, Krabbe disease has been relatively refractory to most single-therapy interventions. Although hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can alter the course of Krabbe disease and is the current standard-of-care, it simply slows the progression, even when initiated in pre-symptomatic children. However, the recent success of combinatorial therapeutic approaches in small animal models of Krabbe disease and the identification of new pathogenic mechanisms provide hope for the development of effective treatments for this devastating disease. This review provides a brief history of Krabbe disease and the evolution of single and combination therapeutic approaches and discusses new pathogenic mechanisms and how they might impact the development of more effective treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Bradbury
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH, 43205, United States.
| | - Ernesto R Bongarzone
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States.
| | - Mark S Sands
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.
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14
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Bradbury AM, Bagel JH, Nguyen D, Lykken EA, Pesayco Salvador J, Jiang X, Swain GP, Assenmacher CA, Hendricks IJ, Miyadera K, Hess RS, Ostrager A, ODonnell P, Sands MS, Ory DS, Shelton GD, Bongarzone ER, Gray SJ, Vite CH. Krabbe disease successfully treated via monotherapy of intrathecal gene therapy. J Clin Invest 2021; 130:4906-4920. [PMID: 32773406 DOI: 10.1172/jci133953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD; Krabbe disease) is a progressive, incurable neurodegenerative disease caused by deficient activity of the hydrolytic enzyme galactosylceramidase (GALC). The ensuing cytotoxic accumulation of psychosine results in diffuse central and peripheral nervous system (CNS, PNS) demyelination. Presymptomatic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only treatment for infantile-onset GLD; however, clinical outcomes of HSCT recipients often remain poor, and procedure-related morbidity is high. There are no effective therapies for symptomatic patients. Herein, we demonstrate in the naturally occurring canine model of GLD that presymptomatic monotherapy with intrathecal AAV9 encoding canine GALC administered into the cisterna magna increased GALC enzyme activity, normalized psychosine concentration, improved myelination, and attenuated inflammation in both the CNS and PNS. Moreover, AAV-mediated therapy successfully prevented clinical neurological dysfunction, allowing treated dogs to live beyond 2.5 years of age, more than 7 times longer than untreated dogs. Furthermore, we found that a 5-fold lower dose resulted in an attenuated form of disease, indicating that sufficient dosing is critical. Finally, postsymptomatic therapy with high-dose AAV9 also significantly extended lifespan, signifying a treatment option for patients for whom HSCT is not applicable. If translatable to patients, these findings would improve the outcomes of patients treated either pre- or postsymptomatically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Bradbury
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica H Bagel
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Duc Nguyen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Erik A Lykken
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Jill Pesayco Salvador
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Xuntian Jiang
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Gary P Swain
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Charles A Assenmacher
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ian J Hendricks
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Keiko Miyadera
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rebecka S Hess
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Arielle Ostrager
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Patricia ODonnell
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mark S Sands
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Daniel S Ory
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - G Diane Shelton
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Ernesto R Bongarzone
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Steven J Gray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Charles H Vite
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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