ABETALIPOPROTEINEMIA (ABL)

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND

Abetalipoproteinemia (also known as Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder affecting the lipid metabolism that is characterized by severely decreased levels of apolipoprotein B. Growth retardation can already occur from infancy due to a malabsorption syndrome. Due to the decreased absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (especially vitamin E and A), patients later present with ataxia, a loss of deep tendon reflexes, retinal pigmentation disorders, and acanthocytosis. As well as a decrease in total cholesterol to less than 50 mg/dl and a decrease in Apo B-containing lipoproteins, only low levels of immunoreactive Apo B are found in the serum.

The molecular genetic cause of the disease are pathogenic variants in the gene encoding Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein (MTTP). MTTP is a multifunctional heterodimeric protein involved in the assembly and secretion of Apo B-containing lipoproteins (mainly LDL and VLDL) in the liver. Loss of function of MTTP leads to increased degradation of Apo B in the liver. Since the synthesis and secretion of Apo B-containing chylomicrons in the intestine is also impaired, malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins occurs. Early dietary measures and supplementation with vitamins A and E can prevent the progression of neurological symptoms and retinopathy.

References

Aers et al. 2018, Ann Intern Med. doi:10.7326/L18-0358 / Lee J. et Hegele R.A. 2014, J Inherit Metab Dis. 37:333 / Khatun et al. 2013, J Lipid Res 54:1541 / Burnett et al. 2012, Eur J Hum Genet 20: doi:10.1038/ejhg.2012.85 / Burnett et al. 2018, GeneReviews® [Internet] / Junaid Z. et Patel K. 2018, StatPearls [Internet]