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Abstract Mutations in the GBA gene that encodes the lysosomal enzyme β-glucocerebrosidase (GCase) are a major genetic risk factor for Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this study, we generated a set of differentiated and stable human dopaminergic cell lines that express the two most prevalent GBA mutations as well as GBA knockout cell lines as a in vitro disease modeling system to study the relationship between mutant GBA and the abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein. We performed a deep analysis of the consequences triggered by the presence of mutant GBA protein and the loss of GCase activity in different cellular compartments, focusing primarily on the lysosomal compartment, and analyzed in detail the lysosomal activity, composition, and integrity. The loss of GCase activity generates extensive lysosomal dysfunction, promoting the loss of activity of other lysosomal enzymes, affecting lysosomal membrane stability, promoting intralysosomal pH changes, and favoring the intralysosomal accumulation of sphingolipids and cholesterol. These local events, occurring only at a subcellular level, lead to an impairment of autophagy pathways, particularly chaperone-mediated autophagy, the main α-synuclein degradative pathway. The findings of this study highlighted the role of lysosomal function and lipid metabolism in PD and allowed us to describe a molecular mechanism to understand how mutations in GBA can contribute to an abnormal accumulation of different α-synuclein neurotoxic species in PD pathology.

Objective: To analyse the associations between urinary levels of IL-6 EGF, MCP-1 and TGFβ1 and clinical, biochemical and histopathological characteristics in patients with primary IgA nephropathy and their ability to predict the extent of lesions of glomerular and/or interstitial sclerosis. Patients and methods: A total of 58 patients with IgA nephropathy were studied. We determined the urine levels of IL-6, EGF, MCP-1, and TGFβ1 at the time of diagnosis. The extent of glomerular and interstitial fibrosis was analysed by quantitative morphometry and kidney biopsies were classified according to the Oxford criteria. We analysed the ability of these molecules to predict the extent of glomerular and interstitial fibrosis lesions. Results: IL-6, TGFβ1 and MCP-1 were associated with focal glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis extension but not with the presence of mesangial, extracapillary or endocapillary proliferation. EGF showed a negative association with interstitial fibrosis. By categorising patients according to the Oxford classification, patients with T1 and T2 scores had significantly higher levels of IL-6, MCP-1, TGF-β1 and significantly lower levels of EGF than patients with T0 scores. By multiple regression and logistic regression analyses, the levels of MCP-1, IL-6 and EGF were independent predictors of the fibrosis surface, after adjusting for age and eGFR. Conclusion: The urinary concentration of IL-6, EGF and MCP-1 provides additional information that significantly improves the estimation of the surface of interstitial fibrosis in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Objetivo: Analizar las asociaciones entre el nivel urinario de IL-6, EGF, MCP-1 y TGFβ1 y las características clínicas, bioquímicas y anatomopatológicas en enfermos con nefropatía IgA primaria y determinar su capacidad para realizar una estimación de la extensión de las lesiones de esclerosis glomerular e intersticial. Pacientes y métodos: Se estudió a 58 enfermos con nefropatía IgA. Se determinaron los niveles urinarios de IL-6, EGF, MCP-1 y TGFβ1 en el momento del diagnóstico. Tras realizar un análisis de la extensión de las lesiones renales mediante morfometría cuantitativa y mediante los criterios de Oxford, se analizó la capacidad de dichas moléculas para estimar la extensión de las lesiones glomerulares e intersticiales de fibrosis. Resultados: La IL-6, MCP-1 y TGF-β1 se asociaron a glomeruloesclerosis focal y a la extensión de la fibrosis intersticial, pero no a la presencia de proliferación mesangial, intracapilar o extracapilar. EGF presentó una asociación negativa con la fibrosis intersticial. Al categorizar a los enfermos según la clasificación de Oxford, los enfermos con scores T1 y T2 presentaron niveles significativamente superiores de IL-6, MCP-1 y TGFβ1, y niveles de EGF significativamente inferiores que los enfermos con T0. Tanto mediante regresión múltiple como mediante regresión logística, los niveles de MCP-1, IL-6 y EGF fueron predictores independientes de la superficie de fibrosis, tras ajustar por edad y FGe. Conclusión: La determinación de la concentración urinaria de IL-6, EGF y MCP-1 proporciona una información adicional que mejora de forma significativa la estimación de la superficie de fibrosis intersticial.

Objetivos: 1) Identificar las variables que se asocian con los niveles urinarios de MBL, C4d y C5b-9 en enfermos con nefropatía IgA idiopática. 2) Analizar si los niveles urinarios de MBL o C4d son útiles para identificar la presencia de depósitos mesangiales de C4d/MBL. Pacientes y método: Se estudió a 96 enfermos con nefropatía IgA primaria. Se registraron las variables demográficas, clínicas y bioquímicas en el momento del diagnóstico. Las lesiones renales se cuantificaron mediante la clasificación de Oxford. En las biopsias, se realizaron tinciones inmunohistoquímicas para MBL, properdina, C4d, y C5b-9. En orina, se determinó el nivel de properdina, MBL, C4d y C5b-9. Resultados: Los predictores independientes de los niveles de C4d y MBL en orina fueron el depósito mesangial de cada una de ellas y, en menor grado, la proteinuria. Los predictores independientes de los niveles urinarios de C5b-9 fueron los niveles de MBL y properdina, y la proteinuria. La excreción urinaria de C4d tuvo una sensibilidad del 90% (IC 95%: 58,7-99) y una especificidad del 73% (IC 95%: 54-87) para la detección de depósitos mesangiales de C4d y el nivel de MBL tuvo una sensibilidad del 83,9% (IC 95%: 62-95) y una especificidad del 81,6% (IC 95%: 65-92) para identificar depósitos mesangiales de MBL. Conclusión: El principal predictor de la concentración urinaria de C4d y MBL es la presencia de depósitos mesangiales de ellas. La MBL podría contribuir a la activación del complemento en la luz tubular a través de la vía de las lectinas. Los niveles urinarios de MBL y C4d podrían ser biomarcadores sensibles y específicos para la identificación de los enfermos que presentan depósitos mesangiales de MBL o C4d.

Objectives: 1. To identify the variables that are associated with urinary levels of properdin, MBL, C4d, and C5b-9 in patients with idiopathic IgA nephropathy. 2. To analyse whether urinary levels of MBL and/or C4d are useful for identifying the presence of mesangial deposits of C4d/MBL. Patients and method: A total of 96 patients with IgA nephropathy were studied. Demographic, clinical and biochemical variables were recorded at the time of diagnosis. Renal lesions were quantified using the Oxford classification. Immunohistochemical staining for MBL, MASP-2, properdin, C4d, and C5b-9 was performed in kidney biopsies, and in urine, the levels of properdin, MBL, C4d and C5b-9 were determined. Results: In multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of C4d and MBL levels in urine were the mesangial deposits of each protein and, to a lesser extent, the urinary protein excretion. The independent predictors of urinary levels of C5b-9 were MBL properdin and proteinuria. Urinary excretion of C4d had a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI: 58.7–99) and a specificity of 73% (95% CI: 54–87) for detecting mesangial C4d deposits, and the level of MBL had a sensitivity of 83.9% (95% CI: 62–95) and a specificity of 81.6% (95% CI: 65–92) for identifying mesangial deposits of MBL. Conclusion: The main predictor of urinary concentration of C4d and MBL was the presence of their respective mesangial deposits. Urine MBL may contribute to complement activation in the tubular luz through the lectin pathway. Urinary levels of MBL and C4d could be sensitive and specific biomarkers for the identification of patients with mesangial deposits of MBL and C4d.