Re‐Purposing Sapropterin (Kuvan) for <scp>ACTA2</scp> ‐Related Multisystemic Smooth Muscle Dysfunction Syndrome: A Translational Mechanistic and First‐In‐Human Therapeutic Report
Multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome (MSMDS) is an ultra-rare, ACTA2-related disorder characterized by severe cerebrovascular disease, aortic aneurysms, and smooth muscle dysfunction. Using molecular dynamics simulations and in silico drug screening, we identified that sapropterin dihydrochloride (Kuvan) is a candidate capable of restoring p.R179H mutation disrupted actin polymerization. Patient-derived fibroblasts demonstrated improved actin organization with Kuvan treatment. Off-label treatment in a single pediatric patient with ACTA2-MSMDS resulted in observed cerebrovascular stabilization and clinical improvement on longitudinal follow-up. These findings provide first-in-human n-of-1 translational evidence supporting sapropterin as a potential disease-modifying therapy for ACTA2-related vasculopathies, while gene-directed therapies are awaited. Further studies are needed to establish a robust therapeutic effect and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the observed cerebrovascular benefit.
Authors
- Omer Bar‐Yosef (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7052-5238)
- Noa Bielopolski
- Miguel Weil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5721-653X)
- Livia Kapusta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9794-8161)
- Shane Wald-Altman
- Moran Hausman‐Kedem (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5315-3738)
- Musolino PL
- Claire Shamber
- Vijai Krishnan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5979-1255)
- Shelly I Shrian
Institutions
- Harvard University (US)
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (IL)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
- Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital (IL)
- Institute for Skin Research (Israel) (IL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
- Published
- 2026-07-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.70493
- Primary Topic
- Connective tissue disorders research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00