Beyond Krabbe disease, the intriguing connection of galactocerebrosidase (GALC) with nervous system illness: A novel risk factor?

Galactocerebrosidase (GALC) is a lysosomal enzyme crucially involved in the catabolism of galactosphingolipids. Among galactosphingolipids, galactosylceramide and sulfatide are crucial determinants for oligodendrocyte differentiation, as well as myelin stability and structure. Homozygous or compound heterozygous inherited mutations leading to a severe decrease in GALC enzymatic activity have been associated with the onset of Krabbe disease, also known as “globoid cell leukodystrophy”. Extensive alterations in the central and peripheral nervous system characterise it. In recent years, a link between GALC variants and other diseases affecting the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, has emerged. Moreover, an altered GALC expression was detected in some tumour types. Thus, it appears that GALC may play a pivotal role in regulating important cellular events involved in the pathogenesis of various disorders. This review describes the recent data concerning GALC biochemical and molecular facets and its involvement in disease to underline the potential points of interest and the critical items that require a deeper investigation. Further, it discusses its established and possible roles in physiological conditions and its assessment as a risk factor.