Glycogen storage disease is caused by deficiencies in enzymes involved in glycogen metabolism. There are several types classified based on the enzyme deficiency and clinical manifestations. Type 1 is von Gierke disease where deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase causes hypoglycemia and liver abnormalities. Type 2 is Pompe disease caused by acid alpha-glucosidase deficiency leading to glycogen accumulation in muscles. Treatments depend on the type but may include dietary modifications, enzyme replacement therapy, or gene therapy.

1. Glycogen storage disease
Presentedby:Manisha.s. nadar Guidedby:Dr.Puvitha
2nd yearMD

2. Learning objectives:
 What is glycogen ?
 Structure, synthesis, role of hormones on glycogen
 Types of GSD and genetic mutations In each
 Symptoms and treatment
 Questions and doubts
 reference

3. What is glycogen
?

4. In simple words:
 (C6H10O5 )n . A polysaccharide.
or storage form of glucose in body. In a rapidly mobilizable form.
 Abundantly stored in liver and muscle [liver glycogen can maintain blood glucose for
8-10 hrs, whereas most of the body’s glycogen is found in muscles].
Quick review of the structure:
 Primary glycosidic bond is – α(1 4) linkage after 8 to 10 glucosyl residue a branch
containing α(1 6) linkage.

5. Synthesis and breakdown of glycogen
 As we know glycogen is the stored form of glucose, most
commonly found in organs like liver and muscles. it is the
primary source of energy in humans, the synthesis and
breakdown of which involves many important enzymes.
deficiency of these enzymes (caused by mutations) leads to
glycogen storage disease of varying types.
 Glycogenin (enzyme acting as a primer) polymerizes first few
glucose molecules ( a oligosaccharide containing 4 glucose
molecules called limit dextrin).
 Later each glucose molecules are converted to simple forms
(glucose-1-p) for the easy bonding α(1-4) and branching α(1-6)
finally forming the complex structure glycogen.

6. Short recap of glycogen synthesis and important enzymes taking part in
it.

7. Enzymatic activity and effects of epinephrine

8. Role of hormones on glycogen

9. Classification of GSD
 Approximately a dozen forms of glycogenosis have been described in association with specific
enzyme deficiencies. On the basis of pathophysiologic findings, they can be grouped into three
categories.
1. Hepatic type:
Deficiency of hepatic enzymes involved in glycogen metabolism. It is associated with major
clinical effects : enlargement of the liver due to storage of glycogen and hypoglycaemia due to a failure
of glucose production. Eg: von gierke disease.
2. Myopathic type:
In striated muscle, glycogen is an important source of energy. Enzymes that are involved in
glycolysis are deficient. It is associated muscle weakness due to impaired production of energy. Typical
marking of myopathic GSD is by muscle cramps after exercise, myoglobinuria. And failure of exercise to
induce an elevation in blood lactate levels because of a block in glycolysis. Eg: McArdle disease.

10. Classification of GSD
3. Type ii glycogenesis:
It is caused by a deficiency of lysosomal acid maltase and so is associated
with deposition of glycogen in virtually every organ, but cardiomegaly is most
prominent.
most affected patients die within 2 years of onset of cardiorespiratory
failure. Therapy with the missing enzyme (glucosidase) can reverse cardiac muscle
damage and modestly increase longevity.

11. GSD type 1(von gierke disease)
 von Gierke disease caused by the buildup of a complex sugar called glycogen in the
body's cells.
 Signs and symptoms of this condition typically appear around the age of 3 or 4
months. infant may have hypoglycemia, which can lead to seizures. They can also
have lactic acidosis, high blood levels of uric acid (hyperuricemia), and
hyperlipidemia.
 As they get older, children with GSDI have thin arms and legs and short stature. An
enlarged liver may give the appearance of a protruding abdomen. The kidneys may
also be enlarged. Affected individuals may also have diarrhea and deposits of
cholesterol in the skin (xanthomas).

12. GSD type 1(von gierke)
other symptoms:
 delayed puberty
 osteoporosis
 Gout
 pulmonary hypertension
 polycystic ovaries
two types of GSD :
type Ia (GSDIa) &type Ib (GSDIb).
people with GSDIb have neutropenia. neutropenia and oral problems are specific to
people with GSDIb and are typically not seen in people with GSDIa.

13. Genetic changes
 Mutations in two
genes, G6PC and SLC37A4, cause
GSDI. G6PC gene mutations cause GSDIa,
and SLC37A4 gene mutations cause GSDIb.
 Mutations in the G6PC and SLC37A4 genes
prevent the effective breakdown of glucose
6-phosphate. Glucose 6-phosphate that is
not broken down to glucose is converted
to glycogen and fat so it can be stored
within cells.

14. Von gierke’s disease
 Chromosomal mutation of G6PC and SLC37A4 genes .
 Cytogenetic Location: 11q23.3

15. GSD type 2 (pompe disease)
 accumulation of glycogen in certain organs and tissues, especially muscles, impairs their ability to
function normally.
 three types of Pompe disease:
 classic infantile-onset, non-classic infantile-onset, and late-onset.
classic form of infantile-onset Pompe disease: begins within a few months of birth.
Symptoms are,
 Myopathy
 Hypotonia
 Hepatomegaly
 heart defects
 If untreated, this form of Pompe disease leads to death from heart failure in the first year of life.

16. non-classic form of infantile-onset Pompe disease
 usually appears by age 1.
 Symptoms are,
 delayed motor skills
 progressive muscle weakness.
 Cardiomegaly
 most children with non-classic infantile-onset Pompe disease live only into early childhood.
 late-onset type of Pompe disease
 may not become apparent until later in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood.
 milder than the infantile-onset forms of this disorder and is less likely to involve the heart.
 Most individuals experience progressive muscle weakness, especially in the legs and the trunk, including the
muscles that control breathing. As the disorder progresses, breathing problems can lead to respiratory failure.

17. Genetic changes in GSD type2 (pompe
disease)
 Mutation in GAA gene [glucosidase a,acid]:
 This gene is responsible for producing the acid a-glucosidase [acid maltase] this
enzyme is active in lysosomes and breaks down glycogen to glucose
 Cytogenetic Location of GAA gene : 17q25.3

18. Pompe’s disease

19. GSD type 3 (cori disease)
 Beginning in infancy, individuals with any type of GSDIII
 Hypoglycemia
 Hyperlipidemia
 elevated blood levels of liver enzymes
 Hepatomegaly
 slow growth
 noncancerous (benign) tumors called adenomas may form in the liver.
 some affected individuals develop chronic liver disease (cirrhosis) and liver failure
later in life.

20. Cori’s disease
 Mutation of AGL gene (amylo-a-1,6-glucosidase,4-a-glucontransferase) cytogenetic
location: 1p21.2
 The AGL gene is responsible for the production of debranching enzyme (break down
the side chains). It also forms the isoform of the debranching enzyme
(phosphorylases) in different tissues.

21. Cori’s disease/ forbe’s disease

22. GSD type 4 (Andersen’s disease)
 The fatal perinatal neuromuscular type is the most severe form of GSD IV, with signs
developing before birth.
 Polyhydramnios
 Affected fetuses have a condition called fetal akinesia deformation sequence
 Decrease joint stiffness (arthrogryposis)
 severe hypotonia & atrophy
 The congenital muscular type of GSD IV is usually not evident before birth but
develops in early infancy These babies often have dilated cardiomyopathy.
 The progressive hepatic type is the most common form of GSD IV. failure to thrive
hepatomegaly portal hypertension, ascites

23. Andersen’s disease
 Mutation of GBE1 gene (1,4-a-glucan branching enzyme 1)
 This gene provides instructions for making glycogen branching enzyme. As the
branched structure of glycogen makes it more compact for storage and allows it to
breakdown more easily when it is needed for fuel.
 Cytogenetic location: 3p12.2

24. Andersen’s disease

25. GSD type 5 (McArdle disease)
 inherited disorder caused by an inability to break down a complex sugar called glycogen in muscle
cells.
 People with GSDV typically experience,
 fatigue, muscle pain, and cramps during the first few minutes of exercise (exercise intolerance) The
discomfort is generally alleviated with rest.
 About half of people with GSDV experience breakdown of muscle tissue (rhabdomyolysis)
 destruction of muscle tissue releases a protein called myoglobin, which is filtered through
the kidneys and released in the urine (myoglobinuria). Myoglobin causes the urine to be red or brown
 myoglobinuria will develop life-threatening kidney failure.
 features of this condition typically begin in a person's teens or twenties, but they can appear anytime
from infancy to adulthood

26. McAdrle’s disease
 Mutation of the PYGM gene (glycogen phosphorylase, muscle associated) provides
the instructions to produce myophosphorylase (converts glycogen to glucose-1-
phosphate). Mutation creates a premature stop signal.
 Cytogenetic location :11q13.1

27. McAdrel’s disease

28. McAdrel’s disease:
1. subsarcolemmal vacuoles
2. vascuolar myopathy

29. GSD type 6 (hers disease)
 A lack of glycogen breakdown interferes with the normal function of the liver.
 The signs and symptoms of GSDVI typically begin in infancy to early childhood. The
first sign is usually an hepatomegaly. Affected individuals may also have
hypoglycemia or lactic acidosis during fasting.
 The signs and symptoms of GSDVI tend to improve with age; most adults with this
condition do not have any related health problems.

30. Hers disease
 Mutation of the PYGL gene (phosphorylase L) causes deficient liver glycogen
phosphorylase which breaks down the glycogen to glucose-1-phosphate.
 Cytogenetic Location : 14q22.1

31. Hers disease

32. GSD type 7 (tarui’s disease)
 It is the result of phosphofrucokinase enzyme deficiency
 Phosphofructokinase catalyzes the rate-limiting step in glycolysis.
Phosphofructokinase deficiency leads to muscle pain and exercise-induced fatigue
and weakness. Tarui disease resolves with rest, and, although no specific treatment
exists, the condition may not progress to severe disability.
 excess glycogen accumulates in affected tissues.. Enzyme deficiency decreases the rate of conversion
of fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-diphosphate. Phosphofructokinase is found in muscle tissue
and red blood cells.
 Exercise intolerance in childhood much earlier and is more severe in Tarui disease than in McArdle
disease. The second wind phenomenon is not seen in Tarui disease as it is in McArdle disease.
 Neurologic symptoms believed attributable to Tarui disease include complex partial seizures, diplopia,
hyporeflexia, central facial palsy, and upper extremity weakness.

33. Tarui’s disease
 Mutation of PFKM gene causes deficiency of phosphofructokinase, muscle this gene
provides a subunit of PFK which is essential for rapid breakdown of glycogen. More
common in Ashkenazi jewish ancestry.
 Cytogenetic Location : 12q13.11

34. Tarui’s disease

35. GSD type 0:
has a GYS1(glycogen synthase1) gene. Mostly affects the cardiac
and skeletal muscle. Cytogenetic Location : 19q13.33

36. GSD type 0 :
GYS2 (glycogen synthase 2) gene provides liver glycogen
synthase. Cytogenetic Location: 12p12.1

37. GSD type15 :
Mutation of GYG1 (glycogenin1) gene. This gene is expressed in muscle and other
tissues Glycogenin is a glycosyltransferase that catalyzes the formation of a short
glucose polymer from uridine diphosphate glucose in an autoglucosylation reaction.
Cytogenetic Location : 3q24

38. Treatment options and management of GSD
 GSD type I:
 GSD type Ib require intravenous therapy to correct hypoglycemia and intensive intravenous antibiotic
treatment to control infections.
 Because no specific treatment is available, symptomatic therapy is very important.
 the future may bring adeno-associated virus vector–mediated gene experimental therapy, which may
result in curative therapy, as is possible in patients with GSD type II.
 The primary goals are good control of hypoglycemia and other metabolic disturbances, such as
hyperlactatemia, hyperuricemia, and hyperlipidemia.
 GSD type II
 At present, effective specific treatment can be achieved using recombinant DNA alglucosidase alfa
(Myozyme), which degrades lysosomal glycogen..
 Alglucosidase alfa may be administered by intravenous infusion only. inpatient care is necessary in
instances of respiratory insufficiency.

39.  GSD type III:
 Hydrolyzable cornstarch should be slowly administered between meals and
overnight as well; this therapy is particularly important to prevent overnight
hypoglycemia.
 GSD types IV and VI:
 No medication is necessary.
 GSD types V and VII:
 No specific therapy is available. Hospital treatment is necessary during renal
insufficiency due to rhabdomyolysis.

43.  Mnemonic: Von Gierke Put Coors And McDonalds in Her Taurus. (Imagine Von Gierke loading up
his girlfriend's Ford Taurus with Coors and McDonalds for a picnic)
 Type 1: Von Gierke
 Type 2: Pompe
 Type 3: Cori
 Type 4: Andersen
 Type 5: McArdle
 Type 6: Hers
 Type 7: Tarui
 Glycogen storage disorders exhibit autosomal recessive inheritance.
 Hyperlipidemia seen in von Gierke disease manifests as xanthomas and elevated VLDL.
 Decreased free phosphate due to defective glucose-6-phosphatase causes increased AMP. AMP is
degraded to uric acid causing hyperuricemia. This predisposes patients to gout.

44.  Type VII (Tarui) presents in childhood with :
 Exercise-induced muscle cramps and weakness
 Ketosis
 Hyperlipidemia
 Mildly elevated transaminases
 Hers' disease presents in early childhood with :
 Hepatomegaly
 Growth retardation
 Mild hypoglycemia
 Mild hyperlipidemia
 Mild ketosis

51. 2. B
5. C
18. D
19. E
22. C

52. Reference:
 Robbins basic pathology; 9th edition; by: kumar, abbas, aster
 http://www.humpath.com/spip.php?article8559&id_document=25137#d
ocuments_portfolio
 https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/
 http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/119947
 http://www.namrata.co/glycogen-metabolism-multiple-choice-
questions-solved/