AGAL misprocessing-induced ER stress and the unfolded protein response: lysosomal storage-independent mechanism of Fabry disease pathogenesis?

Background Classic Fabry disease (FD) is caused by GLA mutations that result in enzymatic deficiency of alpha-galactosidase A (AGAL), lysosomal storage of globotriaosylceramide, and a resulting multisystemic disease. In non-classic later-onset FD, patients have some preserved AGAL activity and a milder disease course, though female carriers may also be affected. While FD pathogenesis has been mostly attributed to catalytic deficiency of mutated AGAL, lysosomal storage and impairment of lysosomal functions, other pathogenic factors may be important, especially in non-classic later-onset FD. Methods We characterized the clinical, biochemical, genetic, molecular, cellular and organ pathology correlates of the p.L394P AGAL variant that was identified in six individuals with end-stage kidney disease by the Czech national screening program for FD and by further screening of 25 family members. Results Clinical findings revealed a milder clinical course with ~15% residual AGAL activity. Laboratory investigations documented intracellular retention of mutated AGAL with resulting ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Kidney biopsies did not show lysosomal storage. We observed similar findings of ER stress and UPR with several other classic and non-classic FD missense GLA variants. Conclusions We identified defective proteostasis of mutated AGAL resulting in chronic ER stress and UPR of AGAL expressing cells (hereafter referred to as AGALopathy) as an important contributor to FD pathogenesis. These findings provide insight into non-classic later-onset FD and may better explain clinical manifestations with implications for pathogenesis, clinical characterization and treatment of all FD forms. Significance statement Catalytic deficiency of mutated AGAL is responsible for classicFabry disease (FD) pathogenesis but does not fully explain the findings in non-classic later-onset FD, in which affected individuals and female carriers develop clinical manifestations despite some AGAL activity and variably mitigated lysosomal storage. In this investigation of individuals with the p.L394P AGAL variant, we identified defective proteostasis of mutated AGAL resulting in chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response as significant contributors to pathogenesis of non-classic later-onset FD. Similar effects were documented also in other AGAL variants identified in classic and non-classicFD. Endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response therefore play an important role in FD.