Natural History of Sphingosine Phosphate Lyase Insufficiency Syndrome (SPLIS)

Natural History and Phenotypic Spectrum of Sphingosine Phosphate Lyase Insufficiency Syndrome (SPLIS)

This is a prospective longitudinal natural history study with a retrospective cross-sectional arm aimed at determining the natural history of sphingosine phosphate lyase insufficiency syndrome (SPLIS), a recently recognized inborn error of metabolism. The central hypothesis is that age of onset, other disease features, and disease biomarkers will be predictive of quality of life (QOL) and survival in SPLIS patients.

The main purpose of the study is to characterize the natural history of sphingosine phosphate lyase insufficiency syndrome (SPLIS) including the full spectrum of presentations (clinical, biochemical, radiological and pathological) and their change (progression or improvement) over time by collecting and analyzing data from prospective assessments on patients with SPLIS over a three-year time period and retrospective chart review of treatment history. By necessity, the investigators will also endeavor to explore the range of medical treatments and interventions currently being used in the care of SPLIS patients and their impact on the natural history of SPLIS. A retrospective arm will collect data on patients who are deceased and/or who are willing to share medical data but unwilling to participate in the prospective arm of the study.

The secondary objective of the study is to establish a set of biomarkers including plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) that may aid in:

• Characterizing distinct phenotypic subgroups of SPLIS patients within the larger SPLIS population
• Predicting the change (progression or improvement) in symptoms of SPLIS patients over time

The exploratory objectives of the study are to explore the potential of plasma sphingolipids other than S1P, urinary sphingolipids including S1P, and immunological markers including cytokines and T cell subsets to serve as disease biomarkers. A SPLIS multi-domain responder index (MDRI) will be developed. Induced pluripotent stem cells derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and/or skin fibroblasts will be generated as a research tool.

All identified patients with SPLIS diagnosed by genetic criteria are eligible for enrollment in this study, regardless of baseline demographic, biochemical or metabolic features and regardless of interventions such as vitamin B6 supplementation, dialysis or kidney transplantation at time of enrollment. This study may include siblings of index SPLIS cases if the sibling has been genetically confirmed to have SPLIS, regardless of whether they have active disease at the time of enrollment. Data from deceased SPLIS patients will also be collected.

Inclusion Criteria:

Potential subjects fulfilling the following criteria will be eligible to participate in this study:

1. Living or deceased patients diagnosed with SPLIS based on

   1. harbor biallelic pathogenic variant (PV) or likely PV (LPV) in the SGPL1 gene, regardless of phenotype OR
   2. harbor nucleotide changes in both SGPL1 alleles, regardless of variant classification, if they also have one of the following: b1) exhibit at least 1 phenotypic feature of SPLIS (nephrosis, endocrine defect, ichthyosis, neuropathy, male gonadal dysgenesis, lymphopenia) b2) have evidence from biochemical or molecular data (such as enzyme expression or activity in skin fibroblasts) that indicate a possible loss of function in the S1P lyase (SPL) protein b3) are a sibling of a subject with nucleotide changes in both alleles of SGPL1 and at least 1 phenotypic feature of SPLIS

2. Informed consent and (if appropriate) assent for living subjects. For deceased subjects, the Principal Investigator (PI) will be responsible for ensuring that all requirements have been met in regard to the relevant local laws and regulations. Parents of participating SPLIS patients may be included as controls.

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects with SPLIS (or their parents) who are currently using or have a history of using an investigational agent in the last 30 days with the exception of off-label use of medications will be excluded from the study