Multiomics approach provides insight into altered choline metabolism and liver injury in patients with glycogen storage disease type Ia

Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSDIa) is an inherited disorder of carbohydrate metabolism. Patients present with excessive storage of glycogen and fat in the liver and kidneys and are potentially at risk of developing long-term complications. Currently, the mainstay of treatment is highly tailored dietary regimens aimed at improving metabolic control. In the present study, to better elucidate the mechanisms potentially involved in the development of long-term complications, a mass spectrometry-based strategy was employed for an in-depth characterization of the serum proteomic and metabolomic profile of n.12 GSDIa patients. The detection of differential abundance of highly liver-specific circulating proteins and choline-related metabolites in patients provides new insights into the extent of liver damage and dysregulation of lipid metabolism in GSDIa. Specifically, the differential abundance of serum aldolase B and its positive correlation with traditional liver function markers supports its role as a potential biomarker for long-term monitoring of GSDIa liver injury.