Biomarkers in lysosomal storage diseases: a review

A biomarker is generally an analyte that indicates the presence or extent of a biological process, which is itself directly linked to the clinical manifestations and outcome of a particular disease. An ideal biomarker provides indirect but ongoing and specific determinations of disease activity. These characteristics emphasize the value of surrogate biomarkers for non-invasive and detailed monitoring to demonstrate the efficacy of orphan drugs in clinical trials. The emergence of novel laboratory methods has facilitated the search for biomarkers in lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), by allowing the systematic identification of molecules whose expression is altered as a result of the primary storage pathology. In Gaucher disease, for example, a chemokine, CCL18, has been identified as a biomarker for clinical development that reflects disease severity and response to treatment.

New methods for the identification of novel biomarkers have the potential to provide mechanistic insights into the molecular pathogenesis of LSDs, including Fabry disease and Gaucher disease.