Molecular and biochemical insights into dysregulation of glycosphingolipid metabolism in a mouse model of Lysosomal Free Sialic Acid Storage Disorder

Journal article

Free sialic acid storage disorder (FSASD) is caused by pathogenic variants in SLC17A5, which encodes the lysosomal sialic acid exporter, sialin. FSASD is characterized by the accumulation of lysosomal free sialic acid, leading to either a severe, childhood-lethal form or a more slowly progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with the p.Arg39Cys (p.R39C) variant, i.e., Salla disease. While dysregulated glycosphingolipid (GSL) metabolism has been observed in cellular models of FSASD, this study provides the first in vivo biochemical dissection of GSL metabolism in a knock-in mouse model harboring the Slc17a5 p.R39C variant. We employed an integrated multi-modal approach, including sialic acid quantification, exploratory untargeted lipidomics, HPLC-based GSL profiling, bulk transcriptomics, and 4-MU-based lysosomal enzyme activity assays in brain and peripheral tissues (liver and kidney). Exploratory untargeted lipidomic screening revealed region-dependent lipid alterations, with more pronounced changes in the cerebellum than in the forebrain. Pathway-level analyses indicated enrichment of lipid classes related to sphingolipid and GSL metabolism. Targeted biochemical analyses demonstrated that several GSL species accumulate predominantly in the brain, with minimal changes in peripheral tissues, whereas glucosylceramide levels were significantly reduced in all brain regions analyzed. Transcriptomic profiling identified dysregulation of several genes involved in GSL and sialic acid metabolism. Enzyme activity assays corroborated the transcriptomic findings, demonstrating increased activity of several lysosomal glycohydrolases, including neuraminidase 1/3/4 and β-hexosaminidase. Collectively, these findings highlight dysregulated GSL metabolism as a prominent biochemical consequence of sialin deficiency in vivo and highlight its putative role in FSASD neuropathology.

Authors: Sabir, M; Hossain, MS; Pollard, L; Leoyklang, P; Huizing, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Experimental Neurology
• Volume: 399
• Article number: 115665
• Publication date: 2026-01-22
• Acceptance date: 2026-01-21
• DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2026.115665
• EISSN: 1090-2430
• ISSN: 0014-4886
• Language: English
• Keywords: neurodegeneration; Salla disease; SLC17A5; sialin; glycosphingolipids; gangliosides; neuraminidase