Hunter syndrome, or mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II), is a member of a group of inherited metabolic disorders together termed mucopolysaccharidosis (MPSs). It is a rare, X-linked disorder caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase. The prevalence of this syndrome is 1:100,000 births. Insufficient enzyme activity results in accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGS...

BACKGROUND Lysosomal storage diseases are characterized by intracellular accumulation of metabolites within lysosomes. Recent evidence suggests that lysosomal storage impairs autophagy resulting in accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins and dysfunctional mitochondria, ultimately leading to apoptosis. We studied the relationship between lysosome storage and impairment of different intracellu...

Received December 15, 2003 Abstract In this article, we review specific therapies that tackle the basic biochemical defects of lysosomal storage diseases. These include bone marrow transplantation, substrate deprivation therapy, enzyme replacement therapy and enzyme enhancement therapy. We particularly update the progress of development of enzyme replacement therapy, which plays a major role in...