Glucocerebrosidase gene-deficient mouse recapitulates Gaucher disease displaying cellular and molecular dysregulation beyond the macrophage

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Nov 9;107(45):19473-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1003308107. Epub 2010 Oct 20.

Abstract

In nonneuronopathic type 1 Gaucher disease (GD1), mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA1) gene result in glucocerebrosidase deficiency and the accumulation of its substrate, glucocerebroside (GL-1), in the lysosomes of mononuclear phagocytes. This prevailing macrophage-centric view, however, does not explain emerging aspects of the disease, including malignancy, autoimmune disease, Parkinson disease, and osteoporosis. We conditionally deleted the GBA1 gene in hematopoietic and mesenchymal cell lineages using an Mx1 promoter. Although this mouse fully recapitulated human GD1, cytokine measurements, microarray analysis, and cellular immunophenotyping together revealed widespread dysfunction not only of macrophages, but also of thymic T cells, dendritic cells, and osteoblasts. The severe osteoporosis was caused by a defect in osteoblastic bone formation arising from an inhibitory effect of the accumulated lipids LysoGL-1 and GL-1 on protein kinase C. This study provides direct evidence for the involvement in GD1 of multiple cell lineages, suggesting that cells other than macrophages may be worthwhile therapeutic targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gaucher Disease / genetics
  • Gaucher Disease / pathology*
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Glucosylceramidase / deficiency*
  • Glucosylceramidase / genetics
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / pathology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mice
  • Osteoporosis / etiology
  • Phenotype
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic

Substances

  • Glucosylceramidase

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE23086