Sex differences of urinary and kidney globotriaosylceramide and lyso-globotriaosylceramide in Fabry mice

J Lipid Res. 2011 Sep;52(9):1742-6. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M017178. Epub 2011 Jul 11.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to measure globotriaosylceramide (Gb(3)) and lyso-Gb(3) levels by tandem mass spectrometry in the urine and kidney in Fabry (gla knockout) mice and wild-type controls. We found that urine Gb(3) of male and female Fabry mice was higher than wild-type mice of the same sex but also significantly higher in male mice compared with females of the same genotype. In kidney tissue, sex and genotype-dependent differences in Gb(3) levels paralleled those in the urine. Isoforms C16, C22:1, and C24OHA were particularly higher in males compared with females in both wild-type and Fabry mice. Similarly, kidney lyso-Gb(3) concentrations were significantly higher in 12-month-old male Fabry mice than in their homozygous female counterparts. However, lyso-Gb(3) was undetectable in wild-type mice of both sexes. α-Galactosidase A activity and mRNA levels in kidney were significantly lower in male wild-type mice compared with female mice. This study shows the sex differences in kidney and urine Gb(3) and kidney lyso-Gb(3) levels in both wild-type and Fabry mice, and it suggests that these male-female differences should be taken into consideration when using murine models for Fabry disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fabry Disease / genetics
  • Fabry Disease / urine*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney / chemistry*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Sex Characteristics*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Trihexosylceramides / analysis*
  • Trihexosylceramides / urine*
  • alpha-Galactosidase / genetics
  • alpha-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Trihexosylceramides
  • globotriaosylceramide
  • alpha-Galactosidase