Mutations in the SMPD1 gene for ASM produce diminished ASM activity in cells from patients with severe lysosomal storage diseases such as Niemann–Pick disease A and B that treatment with recombinant HSP70 can effectively alleviate disease, indicating that HSP70 can protect lysosomes by stabilizing ASM.15, 63. This evidence concerns the gene SMPD1 and lysosomal storage disease.