Inflammatory Pathways and Cardiac Growth Factors Associated With Fabry Disease Cardiomyopathy

Inflammatory Pathways and Cardiac Growth Factors Associated With Fabry Disease

In Fabry disease (FD), α-galactosidase A deficiency leads to the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Lyso-Gb3 and Gb3), triggering a pathologic cascade that causes progressive damage to multiple organs, including the heart. The heart is one of the organs that is very sensitive to the deficiency of α-galactosidase A. There is a subgroup of patients with significant residual α-galactosidase activity and a phenotype with primary cardiac involvement, occasionally referred as "cardiac variant." The manifestations of cardiac involvement in FD are left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), diastolic dysfunction, microvascular angina. Cardiac hypertrophy is the most common cardiac pathology and cause of death in patients with FD. The elevation of the inflammatory markers strongly demonstrates that chronic inflammation drives the cardiovascular pathophysiology in FD. Moreover, plasma TNF, TNFR2, Il-6 specifically elevated in FD patients with cardio hypertrophy.

The chronic inflammation in combination with elevated Lyso-Gb3 further drives the FD progression even under therapy. The expression of the endothelial-cardiomyocyte growth factors will change in response to chronic inflammation during the development of cardiac hypertrophy.

This is a clinical observational study designed to identify the role of inflammatory signaling markers and secreted growth factors in the progression of cardiac pathology in FD

α-Gal A catalyzes the lysosomal hydrolysis of globotriaosylceramide (Gb-3) to lactosylceramide and digalactosylceramide (Gal-Gal-Cer) to galactosylceramide (Gal-Cer). The deficiency of this enzyme leads to an accumulation of Gb-3, its metabolite, globotriaosylsphingosine (Lyso-Gb-3), and Gal-Gal-Cer in lysosomes. The deposition of Gb-3 and Lyso-Gb-3 within the myocardium is affected the cardiac function with resultant progressive cardiovascular pathology. Gb-3 accumulation was demonstrated in the cardiac valves, cardiomyocytes, nerves, and coronary arteries. At the cellular level, Gb-3 and Lyso-Gb-3 accumulation trigger a cascade of events leading to inflammation and end-stage fibrosis. In the cardiac tissue, Lyso-Gb-3 deposition is associated with increased release of inflammatory molecules and transforming growth factors. Endomyocardial biopsies show infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages, indicating that inflammation plays a significant role in cardiac damage. Overall, accumulated data suggest that chronic inflammation leads to multisystemic FD pathology. Thus, therapeutic interventions, including enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), must be started early, before the process becomes irreversible.

The separation of reversible stages of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from irreversible stages (1 and 2) the major challenge is the identification of an ideal "tipping point" . In patients with HCM, the elevation of the inflammatory markers NF-kB, TNF, Il-6, Il-2, TNFR1, MCP1 strongly correlates with cardiovascular pathology; however, TNF, TNFR2, and Il-6 are specifically elevated in patients with cardiac hypertrophy.

Generally, cardiac hypertrophy corresponds to the expansion of the coronary vasculature to maintain a sufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients. Thus, activation of coronary angiogenesis and fibrosis plays a vital role in cardiac vascularization and pathological hypertrophy, and tissue remodeling may cause the secretion of growth factors, VEGF, IGF-1, TGFβ, and FGF2.

NF-κB activation plays a subsequent role in the inflammatory response to cardiac dysfunction and advanced heart failure. NF-κB and TNF signaling pathways protect the heart by ischemic preconditioning; however, this protective effect depends on the concentration of TNF-α. Therefore, the appropriate concentration of TNF-α is a critical factor in the determination of the grade of cardio-pathology. Plasma circulated marker, prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS), promotes cardiomyocyte survival. Integrated data from different FD studies indicates that PDGDS may be a mediator of the inflammatory process in FD. The secretion of these factors into the bloodstream activates the innate immune response. Thus, the interaction between the inflammatory pathways and cardiac vascularization is a bi-directional process. The co-coordination of these two processes and the role of ERT in influencing immune aspects of cardiac vascularization has never been explored in FD.

The purpose of this study is to identify the blood-based biomarkers for early detection of cardiac involvement and identification of different stages of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart walls) in patients with Fabry disease. The markers used to assess Fabry disease activity such as Gb3 and Lyso Gb3 will be measured. The investigators will explore different inflammatory pathways, and secreted tissue growth factors. The investigators will analyze the role of therapy, especially its timing and the activation of the immune system that relates to cardiac involvement.

The study is designed to identify the role of inflammatory signaling markers and secreted growth factors in the onset and progression of cardiac pathology in FD.

Primary objective: Identify blood-based biomarkers for early detection of cardiac involvement and identification of different stages of HCM pathology in patients with FD.

Inclusion Criteria:

• approved informed consent signed by the patients,
• Confirmed diagnosis of Fabry disease based on deficient α-Gal A enzymatic activity and molecular analysis demonstrating pathogenic variants in the GLA gene
• Male and Female, ages 18-70.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any other known genetic condition associated with HCM,
• Evidence of hepatitis B or C infections or other chronic infectious diseases,
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.