• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2021

Mucopolysaccharidosis type III (MPS III) or Sanfilippo disease is an orphan-inherited lysosomal storage disease. It is one of the most common MPS subtypes. The classical presentation is an infantile-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by intellectual regression, behavioral and sleep disturbances, loss of ambulation, and early death. Unlike other MPS, no disease-modifying therapy has been approved. Here, we review the curative therapy developed for MPS III, from historically ineffective hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and substrate reduction therapy to the promising enzyme replacement therapy or adeno-associated/lentiviral vector-mediated gene therapy. Preclinical studies are presented with recent translational first-in-man trials. We also present experimental research with preclinical mRNA and gene-editing strategies. Lessons from animal studies and clinical trials have highlighted the importance of early therapy before extensive neuronal loss. Disease-modifying therapy for MPS III will likely mandate the development of new early diagnosis strategies.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.20-25
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• 2020

Mucopolysaccharidosis type III (MPS III or Sanfilippo syndrome) is a multisystem lysosomal storage disease that is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. It consists of four subtypes (MPS IIIA, B, C, and D), each characterized by the deficiency of different enzymes that catalyze the metabolism of the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate at the lysosomal level. The typical clinical manifestation of MPS III includes progressive central nervous system (CNS) degeneration with accompanying systemic manifestations. Disease onset is typically before the age of ten years and death usually occurs in the second or third decade due to neurological regression or respiratory tract infections. However, there is currently no treatment for CNS symptoms in patients with MPS III. Invasive and non-invasive techniques that allow drugs to pass through the blood brain barrier and reach the CNS are being tested and have proven effective. In addition, the application of genistein treatment as a substrate reduction therapy is in progress.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.37-41
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• 2018

Mucopolysaccharidosis III (MPS III, Sanfilippo syndrome) is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by a deficiency of one of four enzymes involved in the degradation of glycosaminoglycan (GAG). The resultant cellular accumulation of GAG causes various clinical manifestations. MPS III is divided into four subtypes depending on the deficient enzyme. All the subtypes show similar clinical features and are characterized by progressive degeneration of the central nervous system. A number of genetic and biochemical diagnostic methods have been developed. However, there is no effective therapy available for any form of MPS III, with treatment currently limited to clinical management of neurological symptoms. Main purpose of the treatment for MPS III is to prevent neurologic deterioration. Because conventional intravenous enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has a limitation due to inability to cross the blood-brain barrier, several innovative therapeutic approaches for MPS III are being developed. This review covers the currently developing new therapeutic options for MPS III including high dose ERT, substrate reduction therapy, intrathecal or intraventricular ERT, fusion protein delivery using bioengineering technology, and gene therapy.