GLA基因编码α-半乳糖苷酶A(α-Gal A),这是一种位于溶酶体中的酶,负责分解细胞内的糖鞘脂类。α-Gal A的活性对维持正常的细胞功能至关重要。当GLA基因发生突变,导致α-Gal A活性降低或缺失时,会引起一种称为安德森-法布里病(Fabry病)的罕见遗传性疾病。Fabry病是一种X连锁隐性遗传病,患者体内会积累一种名为Gb3的糖鞘脂,这种积累可导致肾脏、心脏、眼睛和神经系统等多器官损伤。Fabry病的临床表现多样,从轻微到严重不等,且男女患者的症状表现可能有所不同[1,2,3,5]。
最近的研究表明,GLA基因的表达和功能不仅受遗传因素的影响,还可能受到表观遗传调控。例如,DNA甲基化在Fabry病的发病机制中发挥着重要作用。女性患者的症状表现可能与X染色体失活(XCI)的程度和方向有关,而GLA基因启动子的甲基化状态也可能影响突变等位基因的表达水平,进而影响疾病的发病和预后[3,4]。此外,有研究表明,Fabry病患者中存在自噬功能紊乱,这可能与GLA基因的甲基化状态有关[4]。
除了Fabry病,GLA基因还与其它疾病有关。例如,研究发现NOTCH1信号通路可以调控基质GLA蛋白(MGP)的表达,而MGP在抑制软组织钙化中起着重要作用。NOTCH1突变可能导致钙化性主动脉瓣疾病[6]。此外,GLA基因的启动子变异也可能导致Fabry病的发生[7]。因此,GLA基因的研究对于理解多种疾病的发病机制具有重要意义。
综上所述,GLA基因编码的α-Gal A在细胞内糖鞘脂类的代谢中发挥着关键作用。GLA基因突变会导致Fabry病,而GLA基因的表达和功能可能受到表观遗传调控的影响。此外,GLA基因还与其它疾病有关,如钙化性主动脉瓣疾病等。因此,GLA基因的研究对于深入理解多种疾病的发病机制具有重要意义,为疾病的治疗和预防提供新的思路和策略。
参考文献:
1. Duro, Giovanni, Zizzo, Carmela, Cammarata, Giuseppe, Giordano, Antonello, Colomba, Paolo. 2018. Mutations in the GLA Gene and LysoGb3: Is It Really Anderson-Fabry Disease? In International journal of molecular sciences, 19, . doi:10.3390/ijms19123726. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30477121/
2. Al-Obaide, Mohammed A, Islam, Saimul, Al-Obaidi, Ibtisam, Vasylyeva, Tetyana L. 2023. Novel enhancer mediates the RPL36A-HNRNPH2 readthrough loci and GLA gene expressions associated with fabry disease. In Frontiers in genetics, 14, 1229088. doi:10.3389/fgene.2023.1229088. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38155709/
3. Di Risi, Teodolinda, Vinciguerra, Roberta, Cuomo, Mariella, Pisani, Antonio, Chiariotti, Lorenzo. 2021. DNA methylation impact on Fabry disease. In Clinical epigenetics, 13, 24. doi:10.1186/s13148-021-01019-3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33531072/
4. Yanagisawa, Hiroko, Hossain, Mohammad Arif, Miyajima, Takashi, Miyashita, Toshiyuki, Eto, Yoshikatsu. 2019. Dysregulated DNA methylation of GLA gene was associated with dysfunction of autophagy. In Molecular genetics and metabolism, 126, 460-465. doi:10.1016/j.ymgme.2019.03.003. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30871880/
5. Turaça, Lauro Thiago, Pessoa, Juliana Gilbert, Motta, Fabiana Louise, Martins, Ana Maria, Pesquero, João Bosco. 2012. New mutations in the GLA gene in Brazilian families with Fabry disease. In Journal of human genetics, 57, 347-51. doi:10.1038/jhg.2012.32. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22551898/
6. White, Mark P, Theodoris, Christina V, Liu, Lei, Ivey, Kathryn N, Srivastava, Deepak. 2015. NOTCH1 regulates matrix gla protein and calcification gene networks in human valve endothelium. In Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology, 84, 13-23. doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2015.04.006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25871831/
7. Zampieri, Stefania, Cattarossi, Silvia, Ferri, Lorenzo, Morrone, Amelia, Dardis, Andrea. 2024. The c.-265G>A GLA gene promoter variant causes Fabry disease: The hidden culprit identified. In Clinical genetics, 106, 661-663. doi:10.1111/cge.14591. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39023102/