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. 1981 Nov;33(6):900–906.

Cerebroside sulfatase activator deficiency induced metachromatic leukodystrophy.

R L Stevens, A L Fluharty, H Kihara, M M Kaback, L J Shapiro, B Marsh, K Sandhoff, G Fischer
PMCID: PMC1685162  PMID: 6119902

Abstract

Two siblings of consanguineous parents had presented with a variety of findings indicative of juvenile metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). However, instead of the expected profound deficiency of arylsulfatase A (ARS A), their enzyme levels were about half-normal, and enzyme from fibroblasts had properties identical with the properties of enzyme from normal fibroblasts. Nevertheless, the hydrolysis of cerebroside sulfate by growing fibroblasts was markedly attenuated. Supplementation of the fibroblasts with cerebroside sulfatase activator normalized the response in the loading test. These results imply that the fibroblasts, and by extension the patients, are deficient in activator. Although the defective catabolism of cerebroside sulfate and the clinical manifestations in these patients mimic MLD, the molecular basis is distinct from the classical forms of the disorder.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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