Low Arylsulphatase A Activity in the Development of Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that arylsulphatase A (ASA) deficiency may be present in psychiatric patients. A number of patients with low ASA activity and various neuropsychiatric symptoms have been observed. Metachromatic leucodystrophy (MLD) is a disease caused by deficiency of the enzyme ASA. Clinically, adult MLD may present as a schizophrenia-like psychosis, deterioration of cognitive functions, personality changes, depression and dementia. However, there are individuals with low ASA activity without clinical symptoms of MLD. This state is described as ASA pseudodeficiency. It remains controversial whether low ASA activity predisposes to or influences the development of psychiatric symptoms. Relatively little attention has been paid to the role of neurodegenerative processes in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. The hypothesis underlying this work is that there is a subclass of mentally ill patients whose psychiatric problems are at least partly caused by an abnormal ASA. The purpose of this particular study was to determine whether an abnormal ASA could be detected in schizoprenic, major depressed and demented patients and control subjects. There were 66 schizophrenic, 59 major depressed and 61 demented patients. The control group consisted of 102 healthy volunteers. Leucocyte ASA activity was determined from blood samples, using p-nitrocatechol sulphate as substrate. Our results show that low ASA activity is more frequently found in psychiatric patients than in control subjects. Our findings indicate that clinical types of major depression and schizophrenia could be connected with low ASA activity. The presence of a decreased ASA activity points to the conclusion that an enzyme deficit entails vulnerability to psychiatric disorders.

Leukocyte Lysosomal Enzymes in Alzheimer's Disease and Down's Syndrome

“…The activity of ASA was slightly decreased in DAT and DS leukocytes in comparison with age-matched controls. The observed decreased activity of ASA in DAT and DS leukocytes is in accordance with published data concerning decreased ASA activity in dementias of various causes, mental retardation, and certain neuropsychiatric disorders (29,30). As measuring of lysosomal enzyme activities was performed in immunocompetent cells-leukocytes-it is important to mention evidence on local and systemic inflammatory response thought to contribute to or exacerbate the pathogenesis of AD (31,32).…”

Cognitive decline and limb weakness in a 10 year old boy

“…In contrast to the late-infantile form in which motor disturbances mark the onset of disease, cognitive deficits characterized by deterioration in school performance and behavioural problems are the commonest presenting symptoms in late-onset forms (juvenile and adult-onset MLD) as seen in our patient. [2][3][4] These are followed by gait problems, urinary incontinence and dysarthria. Behavioral changes and cognitive deficits are common.…”

Evidence for an N‐glycosylation polymorphism of arylsulfatase a predisposing to alcoholism in Koreans

“…ASA has been studied in many different types of psychiatric patients, including schizophrenics, bipolar patients, demented patients, and neuropsychiatric patients [Shah et al, 1985; Propping et al, 1986; Herska et al, 1987; Cochrane et al, 1996; Ricketts et al, 1996b; Mihaljevic‐Peles et al, 2001]. There have been relatively few investigations of the relationship of ASA and alcoholism.…”