Gene-targeted deletion in mice of the Ets-1 transcription factor, a candidate gene in the Jacobsen syndrome kidney "critical region," causes abnormal kidney development.

Ets-1 is a member of the Ets family of transcription factors and has critical roles in multiple biological functions. Structural kidney defects occur at an increased frequency in Jacobsen syndrome (OMIM #147791), a rare chromosomal disorder caused by deletions in distal 11q, implicating at least one causal gene in distal 11q. In this study, we define an 8.1 Mb "critical region" for kidney defects in Jacobsen syndrome, which spans ~50 genes. We demonstrate that gene-targeted deletion of Ets-1 in mice results in some of the most common congenital kidney defects occurring in Jacobsen syndrome, including: duplicated kidney, hypoplastic kidney, and dilated renal pelvis and calyces. Taken together, our results implicate Ets-1 in normal mammalian kidney development and, potentially, in the pathogenesis of some of the most common types of human structural kidney defects.

Impact of Local and Systemic Factors on Kidney Dysfunction in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome.

Bardet Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare inherited syndromic condition characterized by renal and extra-renal disorders. Renal defect, at either structural or functional level, is one of the cardinal clinical features, and is a major cause of morbidity. However, the pathogenic mechanism underlying its dysfunction remains largely unknown, and to date only symptomatic treatment with no specific therapy is available for these patients. Elucidating aberrant cellular and/or systemic processes that impact kidney function is therefore a prerequisite to develop targeted innovative therapeutic strategies for the BBS patients. Given the proven role of BBS proteins in the function of the primary cilium (PC) and considering the clinical overlapping of BBS with other ciliopathies, BBS is considered the result of disruption of ciliary activities. The present review aims at giving an updated overview of the spectrum of renal abnormalities in BBS patients according to the existing scientific literature, and discusses the possible role of intrinsic PC dysfunction into the pathogenesis of renal defects based on the most recent findings demonstrating a possible role of systemic factors in favoring the progression of renal disease.