Double homozygous missense mutations in DACH1 and BMP4 in a patient with bilateral cystic renal dysplasia.

Renal hypodysplasia (RHD) is characterized by small and/or disorganized kidneys following abnormal organogenesis. Mutations in several genes have been identified recently to be associated with RHD in humans, including BMP4, a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß family of growth factors. DACH1 has been proposed as a candidate gene for RHD because of its involvement in the EYA-SIX-DACH network of renal developmental genes. Here, we present a patient with renal dysplasia carrying homozygous missense mutations in both BMP4 (p.N150K) and DACH1 (p.R684C). The genotype-phenotype correlation in the family hints at an oligogenic mode of inheritance of the disease in this kindred. Functional analyses of the identified DACH1 mutation in HEK293T cells demonstrated enhanced suppression of the TGF-ß pathway suggesting that both mutations could act synergistically in the development of the phenotype in this patient. This finding provides a model for RHD as an oligo-/polygenic disorder and supports a role for DACH1 in the development of RHD in humans.

SIX2 and BMP4 mutations associate with anomalous kidney development.

Renal hypodysplasia (RHD) is characterized by reduced kidney size and/or maldevelopment of the renal tissue following abnormal organogenesis. Mutations in renal developmental genes have been identified in a subset of affected individuals. Here, we report the first mutations in BMP4 and SIX2 identified in patients with RHD. We detected 3 BMP4 mutations in 5 RHD patients, and 3 SIX2 mutations in 5 different RHD patients. Overexpression assays in zebrafish demonstrated that these mutations affect the function of Bmp4 and Six2 in vivo. Overexpression of zebrafish six2.1 and bmp4 resulted in dorsalization and ventralization, respectively, suggesting opposing roles in mesendoderm formation. When mutant constructs containing the identified human mutations were overexpressed instead, these effects were attenuated. Morpholino knockdown of bmp4 and six2.1 affected glomerulogenesis, suggesting specific roles for these genes in the formation of the pronephros. In summary, these studies implicate conserved roles for Six2 and Bmp4 in the development of the renal system. Defects in these proteins could affect kidney development at multiple stages, leading to the congenital anomalies observed in patients with RHD.

Mutations in Uroplakin IIIA are a rare cause of renal hypodysplasia in humans.

BACKGROUND: Renal hypodysplasia, characterized by a decrease in nephron number, small overall kidney size, and maldeveloped renal tissue, is a leading cause of chronic renal failure in young children. Familial clustering and renal hypodysplasia phenotypes observed in transgenic animal models suggest a genetic contribution. Uroplakin IIIa (encoded by UPIIIA) is an integral membrane protein present in urothelial plaques, and the murine UPIIIa knockout is associated with urothelial anomalies and vesicoureteral reflux. De novo UPIIIA mutations recently were identified in 4 of 17 patients with severe bilateral renal adysplasia. METHODS: To evaluate the overall role of UPIIIA in human renal hypodysplasia pathogenesis, we performed UPIIIA mutation analysis in a cohort of 170 pediatric patients affected by severe unilateral or bilateral renal hypodysplasia. Eighty-one patients were affected by bilateral nonobstructive renal hypodysplasia; of these, 61 were without vesicoureteral reflux. Eighty-four patients presented with unilateral nonobstructive renal hypodysplasia, including 24 patients with unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidneys. Family history was positive in 11%. RESULTS: Mutation analysis showed 2 heterozygous mutations not observed in 200 race-matched control chromosomes. In only 1 family was distribution of the UPIIIA mutation consistent with a disease-causing effect. This de novo missense mutation (Gly202Asp) was identified in a patient with unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidneys. The second (intronically located) mutation appeared unlikely to be disease causing because it did not segregate with an obvious disease phenotype in the affected family. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that de novo mutations in UPIIIA can be involved in defective early kidney development, but probably constitute only a rare cause of human renal hypodysplasia in a minor subset of individuals.

Clinical course and NPHS2 analysis in patients with late steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

A small fraction of patients with initial steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) develops late steroid resistance, i.e. a lack of remission after 4 weeks of relapse treatment despite previous response to steroids. The pathophysiological basis of late resistance and the long-term prognosis remain obscure. Fourteen out of 360 patients with SSNS who were seen in our department between 1954 and 2005 developed late resistance. Median age at onset of NS was 4 years and median duration of development of late resistance 4.6 months. Histology showed minimal-change (MC) nephropathy in six patients and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in three patients on initial biopsy and four patients on repeat biopsies. Late resistance was treated with cyclophosphamide in five patients, cyclosporine A in three, and both drugs in one. Eight of these nine patients went into remission. All 14 patients maintained a stable kidney function during their period of observation. NPHS2 mutation analysis in eight patients revealed no pathogenic mutations, suggesting that late resistance is not typically associated with mutations in the NPHS2 gene. With respect to the clinical course, late resistance appears to resemble SSNS and is characterized by a favorable outcome.

Recurrence of proteinuria 10 years post-transplant in NPHS2-associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis after conversion from cyclosporin A to sirolimus.

Mutations in the NPHS2 gene, which encodes podocin, are associated with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in childhood. Renal histology frequently presents focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Post-transplant recurrence of proteinuria in patients affected by homozygous or compound heterozygous NPHS2 mutation is encountered rarely (1-2%) compared to 30% recurrence in nonhereditary FSGS. We report on a pediatric kidney transplant recipient with NPHS2-associated nephrotic syndrome and FSGS, who developed biopsy-proven recurrence of FSGS 10 years post-transplant in temporal association with conversion from cyclosporin A (CsA)- to sirolimus (SRL)-based immunosuppression, due to histological evidence of severe CsA-induced nephrotoxicity. Reswitch of the immunosuppressive regimen from SRL to CsA led to a noticeable decrease of proteinuria and to stabilization of graft function. We conclude that patients with hereditary FSGS are not entirely protected from post-transplant recurrence of proteinuria, even in the long term. The close temporal relationship of FSGS recurrence with CsA withdrawal and conversion to SRL suggests that caution should be exercised in the use of CsA-free immunosuppression also in patients with NPHS2-associated FSGS.

Prevalence of mutations in renal developmental genes in children with renal hypodysplasia: results of the ESCAPE study.

Renal hypodysplasia (RHD) is characterized by a reduced nephron number, small kidney size, and disorganized renal tissue. A hereditary basis has been established for a subset of affected patients, suggesting a major role of developmental genes that are involved in early kidney organogenesis. Gene mutations that have dominant inheritance and cause RHD, urinary tract anomalies, and defined extrarenal symptoms have been identified in TCF2 (renal cysts and diabetes syndrome), PAX2 (renal-coloboma syndrome), EYA1 and SIX1 (branchio-oto-renal syndrome), and SALL1 (Townes-Brocks syndrome). For estimation of the prevalence of these events, an unselected cohort of 99 unrelated patients with RHD that was associated with chronic renal insufficiency were screened for mutations in TCF2, PAX2, EYA1, SIX1, and SALL1. Mutations or variants in the genes of interest were detected in 17 (17%) unrelated families: One mutation, two variants, and four deletions of TCF2 in eight unrelated patients; four different PAX2 mutations in six families; one EYA1 mutation and one deletion in two patients with branchio-oto-renal syndrome; and one SALL1 mutation in a patient with isolated RHD. Of a total of 27 patients with renal cysts, six (22%) carried a mutation in TCF2. It is interesting that a SIX1 sequence variant was identified in two siblings with renal-coloboma syndrome as a result of a PAX2 mutation, suggesting an oligogenic inheritance. Careful clinical reevaluation that focused on discrete extrarenal symptoms and thorough family analysis revealed syndrome-specific features in nine of the 17 patients. In conclusion, 15% of patients with RHD show mutations in TCF2 or PAX2, whereas abnormalities in EYA1, SALL1, and SIX1 are less frequent.