Biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease in carriers of mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene

Abstract

Assessment of hexosylsphingosine (HexSph) in the blood is currently a sensitive diagnostic test for Gaucher disease. We suggested that the assessment of this metabolite may be effective in detecting the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in mutation carriers in the GBA gene (GBA-PD). In the present study HexSph concentration and GBA enzymatic activity were evaluated in patients with GBA-BP, asymptomatic carriers of GBA mutations, patients with sporadic PD (sPD) and the control group in blood, as well as in the primary culture of macrophages. An assessment of HexSph level in the primary macrophage culture makes it possible to distinguish GBA mutation carriers with PD from asymptomatic mutation carriers, and though could be considered as a biomarker of PD development in carriers of GBA mutations.