Arylsulfatase B deficiency in Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome: Cellular studies and carrier identification

Arylsulfatase B deficiency was demonstrated in peripheral leukocytes, cultured skin fibroblasts, and a lymphoid line derived from a patient with MLS. The patient's parents demonstrated levels of arylsulfatase B that were intermediate between those found in patient and those in control subjects. The activity (mean plus or minus SD) in leukocytes from normal subjects, the patient's parents, and the patient was 113.7 plus or minus 36.2, 31.0, and 5.2 nmol 4-nitrocatechol/mg protein/hr, respectively. In skin fibroblasts of the same subjects the activity was 145.2 plus or minus 41.6, 58.5, and 7.0, respectively. Nine other lysosomal enzymes were normal in skin fibroblasts of the patient. No arylsulfatase B activity was detected in a lymphoid line established from the patient with MLS. The arylsulfatase B activity in cultured amniotic fluid cells from 10 normal pregnancies was 203.2 plus or minus 49.9.