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

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 5

β2-Adrenergic receptor agonists decrease SNCA protein levels and ameliorate lysosomal dysfunction.

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β2-Adrenergic receptor agonists decrease SNCA protein levels and amelior...
(A) Connectivity mapping showing anti-Fabry compounds, with the β2-adrenergic receptor agonist orciprenaline exhibiting the highest score. (B) Western blots show the expression of SNCA in WT and untreated GLA-KO cells and KO cells treated with 20 μM clenbuterol and 10 μM orciprenaline (n = 6). (C) Western blots depict the expression of LAMP1 and ACTN4 in WT and untreated GLA-KO cells and KO cells treated with aGAL, 20 μM clenbuterol, and combined therapy (n = 6). (D) Lysosomal pH analysis in all conditions demonstrates independent and additive effects of β2-adrenergic receptor agonist in GLA-KO cells (n = 6). (E) Lysosomal ROS analysis demonstrates independent and additive effects of β2-adrenergic receptor agonist in GLA-KO cells (n = 6). (F) Schematic summary depicting the overall findings of the study: Fabry podocyte lysosomes are characterized by increased size, pH, and ROS production with subsequently decreased function due to Gb3 and SNCA accumulation. This phenotype can be ameliorated through ERT combined with compounds decreasing SNCA accumulation, like β-receptor agonists. Bar graphs depict standard deviation. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple-comparison test.