Zhang, F.* ; Dorn, T.* ; Gnutti, B. ; Anikster, Y.* ; Kuebler, S.* ; Ahrens-Nicklas, R.* ; Gosselin, R.* ; Rahman, S.* ; Durst, R.* ; Zanuttigh, E. ; Güra, M. ; Poch, C.M.* ; Meier, A.B.* ; Laugwitz, K.L.* ; Schüller, H.J.* ; Messias, A.C. ; Sibon, O.C.* ; Finazzi, D.* ; Rippert, A.L.* ; Li, D.* ; Truxal, K.* ; Nandi, D.* ; Lampert, B.C.* ; Yeo, M.* ; Gardham, A.* ; Nissan, B.* ; Horowitz Cederboim, S.* ; Moretti, A.* ; Iuso, A.*
Pantethine ameliorates dilated cardiomyopathy features in PPCS deficiency disorder in patients and cell line models.
Commun. Med. 5:323 (2025)
BACKGROUND: PPCS deficiency disorder (PPCS DD) is an ultra-rare, autosomal recessive form of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) caused by pathogenic variants in PPCS, which encodes the enzyme catalyzing the second step in the coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis pathway. To date, only six patients worldwide have been identified. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing was performed to identify pathogenic PPCS variants in affected individuals. Protein stability was assessed by Western blotting. CoA levels were quantified using a microplate-based assay in patient-derived fibroblasts, cardiac progenitor cells, and cardiomyocytes. Functional evaluation of cardiac cells and engineered heart patches was conducted to investigate contractile performance and arrhythmogenicity. Pantethine was tested as a potential therapeutic agent both in vitro and through long-term clinical follow-up in patients. RESULTS: Causative PPCS variants are identified in six individuals with DCM and variable associated features, including neuromuscular and neurological symptoms. Identified variants lead to reduced PPCS protein stability and decreased cellular CoA levels. Cardiac cells exhibit impaired contractility and arrhythmias, which are partially rescued by pantethine treatment. Clinically, patients receiving pantethine show sustained improvement over time. CONCLUSIONS: Our study expands the genetic and clinical spectrum of PPCS deficiency disorder, identifying six new cases with diverse phenotypes. Functional investigations reveal reduced CoA levels and dysfunction in patient-derived cardiac cells. Pantethine treatment shows promise in partially rescuing DCM phenotypes, both in vitro and in patients. However, complete reversal may require early intervention. These findings underscore the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment in PPCS DD. Future research should focus on optimizing pantethine supplementation and exploring additional therapies to enhance CoA levels and cardiac function in affected individuals.
Impact Factor
Scopus SNIP
Web of Science
Times Cited
Scopus
Cited By
Altmetric
Publikationstyp
Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Typ der Hochschulschrift
Herausgeber
Schlagwörter
Phosphopantothenoylcysteine Synthetase; Escherichia-coli; Neurodegeneration; Biosynthesis; Maturation; Rescues; System
Keywords plus
Sprache
englisch
Veröffentlichungsjahr
2025
Prepublished im Jahr
0
HGF-Berichtsjahr
2025
ISSN (print) / ISBN
2730-664X
e-ISSN
2730-664X
ISBN
Bandtitel
Konferenztitel
Konferzenzdatum
Konferenzort
Konferenzband
Quellenangaben
Band: 5,
Heft: 1,
Seiten: ,
Artikelnummer: 323
Supplement: ,
Reihe
Verlag
Springer
Verlagsort
Campus, 4 Crinan St, London, N1 9xw, England
Tag d. mündl. Prüfung
0000-00-00
Betreuer
Gutachter
Prüfer
Topic
Hochschule
Hochschulort
Fakultät
Veröffentlichungsdatum
0000-00-00
Anmeldedatum
0000-00-00
Anmelder/Inhaber
weitere Inhaber
Anmeldeland
Priorität
Begutachtungsstatus
Peer reviewed
POF Topic(s)
30205 - Bioengineering and Digital Health
30203 - Molecular Targets and Therapies
Forschungsfeld(er)
Genetics and Epidemiology
Enabling and Novel Technologies
PSP-Element(e)
G-503200-001
G-503292-001
G-503000-001
Förderungen
DZHK fellowship
NIH
NBIA Disorders Association
Hoffnungsbaum e.V., NBIA Suisse, NBIA Poland
Bavarian Research Alliance
European Research Council
German Research Foundation (Transregio Research Units)
German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)
ZonMw Open-Call grant
Dutch Organisation for Health Research and Development
NWO-ENW-open
Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research
Biotechnology and Experimental Medicine Program at the University of Brescia, Italy
NBIA Disorders Association (Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation Disorders Association)
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2025-10-27