Lysosomal enzyme activities in Chediak-Higashi syndrome: evaluation of lymphoblastoid cell lines and review of the literature.

Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is an inherited immunodeficiency disorder characterized by giant lysosomal granules in all granule-containing cells. Prior examination of lysosomal enzyme activities in granulocytes and other cells derived from patients with CHS have revealed multiple abnormalities, with the predominant finding being diminished activity of many of the enzymes tested. Abnormalities in lysosomal enzyme activity are also found in animal models of CHS (cattle, aleutian mink, and beige mice). In this study, we have examined lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from a patient with CHS and from an individual heterozygous for the CHS gene for acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, and alpha-mannosidase activity. These cell lines have recently been shown to be satisfactory in vitro models for the disease. Acid phosphatase activity was increased in the heterozygous-derived cell line when compared to control while other enzyme activities were normal both in the CHS- and heterozygous-derived cell lines. We have reviewed the literature and summarized published abnormalities of lysosomal enzyme activities in humans and animals with CHS.