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Accumulation of α-synuclein mediates podocyte injury in Fabry nephropathy
Fabian Braun, Ahmed Abed, Dominik Sellung, Manuel Rogg, Mathias Woidy, Oysten Eikrem, Nicola Wanner, Jessica Gambardella, Sandra D. Laufer, Fabian Haas, Milagros N. Wong, Bernhard Dumoulin, Paula Rischke, Anne Mühlig, Wiebke Sachs, Katharina von Cossel, Kristina Schulz, Nicole Muschol, Sören W. Gersting, Ania C. Muntau, Oliver Kretz, Oliver Hahn, Markus M. Rinschen, Michael Mauer, Tillmann Bork, Florian Grahammer, Wei Liang, Thorsten Eierhoff, Winfried Römer, Arne Hansen, Catherine Meyer-Schwesinger, Guido Iaccarino, Camilla Tøndel, Hans-Peter Marti, Behzad Najafian, Victor G. Puelles, Christoph Schell, Tobias B. Huber
Fabian Braun, Ahmed Abed, Dominik Sellung, Manuel Rogg, Mathias Woidy, Oysten Eikrem, Nicola Wanner, Jessica Gambardella, Sandra D. Laufer, Fabian Haas, Milagros N. Wong, Bernhard Dumoulin, Paula Rischke, Anne Mühlig, Wiebke Sachs, Katharina von Cossel, Kristina Schulz, Nicole Muschol, Sören W. Gersting, Ania C. Muntau, Oliver Kretz, Oliver Hahn, Markus M. Rinschen, Michael Mauer, Tillmann Bork, Florian Grahammer, Wei Liang, Thorsten Eierhoff, Winfried Römer, Arne Hansen, Catherine Meyer-Schwesinger, Guido Iaccarino, Camilla Tøndel, Hans-Peter Marti, Behzad Najafian, Victor G. Puelles, Christoph Schell, Tobias B. Huber
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Research Article Genetics Nephrology

Accumulation of α-synuclein mediates podocyte injury in Fabry nephropathy

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Abstract

Current therapies for Fabry disease are based on reversing intracellular accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) or chaperone-mediated stabilization of the defective enzyme, thereby alleviating lysosomal dysfunction. However, their effect in the reversal of end-organ damage, like kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, remains unclear. In this study, ultrastructural analysis of serial human kidney biopsies showed that long-term use of ERT reduced Gb3 accumulation in podocytes but did not reverse podocyte injury. Then, a CRISPR/Cas9–mediated α-galactosidase knockout podocyte cell line confirmed ERT-mediated reversal of Gb3 accumulation without resolution of lysosomal dysfunction. Transcriptome-based connectivity mapping and SILAC-based quantitative proteomics identified α-synuclein (SNCA) accumulation as a key event mediating podocyte injury. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of SNCA improved lysosomal structure and function in Fabry podocytes, exceeding the benefits of ERT. Together, this work reconceptualizes Fabry-associated cell injury beyond Gb3 accumulation, and introduces SNCA modulation as a potential intervention, especially for patients with Fabry nephropathy.

Authors

Fabian Braun, Ahmed Abed, Dominik Sellung, Manuel Rogg, Mathias Woidy, Oysten Eikrem, Nicola Wanner, Jessica Gambardella, Sandra D. Laufer, Fabian Haas, Milagros N. Wong, Bernhard Dumoulin, Paula Rischke, Anne Mühlig, Wiebke Sachs, Katharina von Cossel, Kristina Schulz, Nicole Muschol, Sören W. Gersting, Ania C. Muntau, Oliver Kretz, Oliver Hahn, Markus M. Rinschen, Michael Mauer, Tillmann Bork, Florian Grahammer, Wei Liang, Thorsten Eierhoff, Winfried Römer, Arne Hansen, Catherine Meyer-Schwesinger, Guido Iaccarino, Camilla Tøndel, Hans-Peter Marti, Behzad Najafian, Victor G. Puelles, Christoph Schell, Tobias B. Huber

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Figure 2

SILAC-based proteomics and network analyses identify SNCA accumulation as a potential pathogenic pathway.

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SILAC-based proteomics and network analyses identify SNCA accumulation a...
(A) Schematic overview of mass spectrometry analysis using SILAC-labeled WT and KO clones. Mass spectrometry yielded 2,248 proteins, among which 321 are lysosome-enriched. (B) The top 10 up- and downregulated lysosome-enriched proteins. (C) Network-based analysis of up- and downregulated lysosomal proteins associated with GLA knockout. Nodes represent genes and are connected if there is a known protein interaction between them. The node size is proportional to the number of its connections. Red and blue nodes represent up- and downregulated seed proteins, respectively. Light red and light blue nodes represent the respective DIAMOnD proteins. GLA is depicted as a green node. Pink nodes indicate shared proteins between the 2 modules. The separate network and Venn diagram on the right show the number and interaction partners of SNCA.

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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