The genetics of cystinuria - an update and critical reevaluation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We aimed to critically evaluate how the establishment of genotype-based treatment for cystinuria has been hampered due to the large number of variants of unknown significance (VUS) within the disease causing genes as well as challenges in accessing a large enough sample size for systematic analysis of endpoint parameters that truly reflect disease severity. This review further discusses how to overcome these hurdles with the establishment of a cystinuria-specific refinement of the current American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)-criteria of variant interpretation. RECENT FINDINGS: Novel tools such as AlphaMissense combined with the establishment of a refined ACMG criterion will play a significant role in classifying VUS within the responsible disease genes SLC3A1 (rBAT) and SLC7A9 (BAT1). This will also be essential in elucidating the role of promising candidate genes, such as SLC7A13 (AGT1), which have been derived from murine model systems and still need further research to determine if they are involved in human cystinuria. SUMMARY: Cystinuria was one of the first disorders to receive a gene-based classification, nonetheless, the clinically actionable implications of genetic diagnostics is still minor. This is due to poorly characterized genotype-phenotype correlations which results in a lack of individualized (genotype-) based management and metaphylaxis.

Ureteroscopic management in cystinuric patients: long-term results from a tertiary care referral center.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term surgical and functional outcomes of cystinuric patients exclusively treated with Ureteroscopy (URS). METHODS: Data from patients treated for cystine stones at a single academic center were retrospectively analyzed. The management protocol consisted of (i) treating symptomatic or > 7 mm stones, (ii) multi-staged URS for voluminous stones, (iii) referring patients to a dedicated nephrological clinic. The eGFR was calculated according to the MDRD formula. CKD category was assessed according to the NKF classification. Relevant CKD was defined as CKD category ≥ 3a. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the cohort data. RESULTS: Data from 46 cystinuric patients treated with 332 URS were available. Median age at diagnosis and at first URS in our center were 18 and 32 years, respectively. Median follow-up was 101 months. Median number of URS and recurrences per patient were 6 and 2, respectively. The median interval between the first and the last available creatinine level was 64 months. Median first and last eGFR were 72 and 74 mL/min, respectively. Overall, 83% of patients had stable or improved renal function within the study period. Ureteral stricture occurred in 3 (6.5%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Cystinuria requires intensive endoscopic management. Most patients treated with URS have stable or improved renal function within a long-term follow-up. CKD is a not neglectable event that potentially occurs at an early stage of life. Current findings should be considered for the surgical management of cystinuric patients.

Covalent post-synthetic modification of MOFs as a fluorescent sensor for the efficient detection of the biomarker of cystinuria.

Cystinuria is a genetic disorder, and in severe cases, it might lead to kidney failure. As an important biomarker for cystinuria, the level of arginine (Arg) in urine is a vital indicator for cystinuria screening. Therefore, it is urgently needed to detect Arg with high selectivity and sensitivity. In this work, a boric acid functionalized Zr-based metal-organic framework UiO-PhbA is prepared by grafting phenylboronic acid on UiO-66-NH2 through a Schiff base reaction using a covalent post-synthesis modification (CPSM) strategy. The prepared UiO-PhbA exhibits a sensitive and specific fluorescence "turn-on" response to Arg and can be exploited to detect Arg in human serum and urine samples with a broad linear range of 0.6-350 µM and low limit of detection (LOD) of 18.45 nM. This study provides a new and reliable rapid screening protocol for sulfite oxidase deficiency-related diseases.

Exploring the Contribution of the Transporter AGT1/rBAT in Cystinuria Progression: Insights from Mouse Models and a Retrospective Cohort Study.

More than 20 years have passed since the identification of SLC3A1 and SLC7A9 as causative genes for cystinuria. However, cystinuria patients exhibit significant variability in the age of lithiasis onset, recurrence, and response to treatment, suggesting the presence of modulatory factors influencing cystinuria severity. In 2016, a second renal cystine transporter, AGT1, encoded by the SLC7A13 gene, was discovered. Although it was discarded as a causative gene for cystinuria, its possible effect as a modulatory gene remains unexplored. Thus, we analyzed its function in mouse models of cystinuria, screened the SLC7A13 gene in 34 patients with different lithiasic phenotypes, and functionally characterized the identified variants. Mice results showed that AGT1/rBAT may have a protective role against cystine lithiasis. In addition, among the four missense variants detected in patients, two exhibited a 25% impairment in AGT1/rBAT transport. However, no correlation between SLC7A13 genotypes and lithiasis phenotypes was observed in patients, probably because these variants were found in heterozygous states. In conclusion, our results, consistent with a previous study, suggest that AGT1/rBAT does not have a relevant effect on cystinuria patients, although an impact in patients carrying homozygous pathogenic variants cannot be discarded.

Cystinuria Complicated by Anuria From Bilateral Obstructing Stones Requiring Bilateral Mini Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in a 22-Month-Old.

Pediatric nephrolithiasis is increasing in incidence and presents differently compared to adults. We report a case of nephrolithiasis in a pediatric patient, presenting with complaints of emesis, anuria, hematuria, and abdominal distension, leading to a diagnosis of bilateral obstructing cystine stones requiring bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Pediatric patients with anuria should be evaluated for bilateral nephrolithiasis as an etiology. Calculous anuria requires prompt recognition of the pathologic process and relief of the obstruction with close follow-up and supportive care until definitive stone management. Bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy can provide definitive surgical intervention without significant morbidity.

Novel compound heterozygous pathogenic variants in the SLC3A1 gene in a Chinese family with cystinuria.

BACKGROUND: Cystinuria is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a cystine transport deficiency in the renal tubules due to mutations in two genes: SLC3A1 and SLC7A9. Cystinuria can be classified into three forms based on the genotype: type A, due to mutations in the SLC3A1 gene; type B, due to mutations in the SLC7A9 gene; and type AB, due to mutations in both genes. METHODS: We report a 12-year-old boy from central China with cystine stones. He was from a non-consanguineous family that had no known history of genetic disease. A physical examination showed normal development and neurological behaviors. Whole-exome and Sanger sequencing were used to identify and verify the suspected pathogenic variants. RESULTS: The compound heterozygous variants c.898_905del (p.Arg301AlafsTer6) is located in exon5 and c.1898_1899insAT (p.Asp634LeufsTer46) is located in exon10 of SLC3A1 (NM_000341.4) were deemed responsible for type A cystinuria family. The variant c.898_905del was reported in a Japanese patient in 2000, and the variant c.1898_1899insAT is novel. CONCLUSION: A novel pathogenic heterozygous variant pair of the SLC3A1 gene was identified in a Chinese boy with type A cystinuria, enriching the mutational spectrum of the SLC3A1 gene. We attempted to find a pattern for the association between the genotype of SLC3A1 variants and the manifestations of cystinuria in patients with different onset ages. Our findings have important implications for genetic counseling and the early clinical diagnosis of cystinuria.

Reporte de un caso de Cistinuria: Uso de herramientas de diagnóstico a nivel nacional / Report of a case of cystinuria: Use of diagnostic tools at national level

La cistinuria es una enfermedad genética que se engloba dentro de alteraciones congénitas del transporte de aminoácidos con formación de cálculos en las vías urinarias, si bien es poco frecuente se caracteriza por su elevada recurrencia. En este trabajo presentamos el caso de una paciente de 34 años, con antecedentes de haber perdido un riñón por episodios anteriores de litiasis y con múltiples recidivas que es diagnosticada mediante la detección de cistina por espectroscopía infrarroja como componente único de 96 fragmentos de cálculos removidos mediante nefrolitotomía percutánea. La paciente fue evaluada laboratorialmente mediante el perfil metabólico y la cristaluria. Las indicaciones de tratamiento específicas incluyeron la administración de agentes alcalinizantes, régimen nutricional, y entrenamiento para control de pH urinario. Es importante señalar la agresividad de la litiasis de cistina con las consecuencias que puede tener la calidad de vida del paciente, y por tanto la importancia de contar con capacidades instaladas a nivel país para el diagnóstico y seguimiento de litiasis genéticas como la causada por la cistinuria(AU)

Cystinuria is a genetic disease that is included among congenital defects of renal amino acids transport that causes urinary stone formation. Although it is rare, it is characterized by its high recurrence. We present the case of a 34-year-old patient that lost one of her kidney because of recurrent episodes of lithiasis, and that was diagnosed by the detection of cystine with infrared spectroscopy as the sole component of 96 stone fragments removed by percutaneous nephrolithotomy. The patient was evaluated by metabolic profile and crystalluria. The specific treatment indications included the administration of alkalinizing agents, nutritional regimen, and training for personal measurement of urinary pH. This case highlights the aggressiveness of cystine stones with the consequences that may have on the quality of the patient life, and therefore the importance of having installed proper diagnostic capacities at national level to detect and monitor treatment efficacy in genetic lithiasis such as cystinuria(AU)

The impact of surgical intervention on renal function in cystinuria / O impacto da intervenção cirúrgica sobre a função renal na cistinúria

ABSTRACT Introduction: Cystinuria is an autosomal recessive disorder due to intestinal and renal transport defects in cystine and dibasic amino acids, which result in recurrent urolithiasis and surgical interventions. This study aimed to assess the impact of surgical interventions on renal function by analyzing estimated glomerular filtration rates. Methods: Thirteen pediatric patients with cystinuria, who were followed-up in a single tertiary institution between 2004 and 2016, were included in the study. Medical records were reviewed to collect data on clinical presentation of patients, urine parameters, stone formation, medical treatment, surgical intervention, stone recurrence after surgical procedure, stone analysis, ultrasonography, 99m-technetium dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-DMSA) radionuclide imaging results, and follow-up time. Creatinine clearances estimated by modified Schwartz (eGFR) formula before and after surgery were used to assess renal function and compared statistically. Results: Nine patients (69.2%) had renal scarring which were detected with 99mTc-DMSA radionuclide imaging. In ten patients (76.9%), open surgical intervention for stones were needed during follow-up. Significant difference was not detected between eGFR before and after surgical intervention (mean 92 versus 106, p = 0.36). Nine of the patients (69.2%) were stone free in the last ultrasonographic examination. Relapses of stone after surgery were seen in 66.6% of patients who underwent surgical intervention. Conclusions: Surgical interventions for urinary stones are commonly required in patients with cystinuria. Renal scarring is a prevalent finding in cystinuric patients. Surgical interventions have no negative impact on eGFR in patients with cystinuria according to the present study.

RESUMO Introdução: A cistinúria é um distúrbio autossômico recessivo causado por defeitos de transporte intestinal e renal da cistina e aminoácidos dibásicos que resultam em urolitíase recorrente e necessidade de intervenção cirúrgica. O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o impacto das intervenções cirúrgicas sobre a função renal por meio da análise da taxa de filtração glomerular estimada. Métodos: Treze pacientes pediátricos com cistinúria acompanhados em uma instituição terciária entre 2004 e 2016 foram incluídos no estudo. Os prontuários médicos foram analisados e utilizados como fonte de dados sobre a apresentação clínica dos pacientes, parâmetros urinários, formação de cálculos, tratamento clínico, intervenção cirúrgica, recidiva de cálculos após procedimento cirúrgico, análise de cálculos, ultrassonografia, resultados de imagens com ácido dimercaptossuccínico marcado com tecnécio metaestável (99mTc-DMSA) e tempo de seguimento. A depuração de creatinina estimada pela fórmula modificada de Schwartz (TFGe) antes e após a cirurgia foi utilizada para avaliar e comparar estatisticamente os níveis de função renal. Resultados: Nove pacientes (69,2%) apresentaram cicatrizes renais detectadas por exame de imagem com 99mTc-DMSA. Dez pacientes (76,9%) necessitaram intervenção cirúrgica aberta por cálculo renal durante o seguimento. Não foram detectadas diferenças significativas entre os valores de TFGe anteriores e posteriores à intervenção cirúrgica (média de 92 vs. 106, p = 0,36). Nove pacientes (69,2%) não apresentaram cálculos no último exame ultrassonográfico. Recidivas de cálculos renais após cirurgia foram observadas em 66,6% dos pacientes submetidos a cirurgia. Conclusões: Intervenções cirúrgicas relativas a cálculos renais são frequentemente necessárias em pacientes com cistinúria. Cicatrizes renais são um achado prevalente em pacientes com cistinúria. De acordo com o presente estudo, cirurgia não afeta negativamente a TFGe de pacientes com cistinúria.

Cuantificación de cistina en orina espontánea para la detección de cistinuria / Quantitation of urinary cystine for the detection of cystinuria / Determinagáo quantitativa de cistina urinaria para a detecgáo de cistinuria

La cistinuria es un error innato del metabolismo ocasionado por un defecto en el transporte renal de arginina, ornitina, lisina y cistina. La acumulación de este último aminoácido de baja solubilidad ocasiona episodios de urolitiasis característicos de la enfermedad. En el presente estudio se estandarizó un método espectrofotométrico confiable y de fácil ejecución para la determinación cuantitativa de cistina en orina espontánea. Se realizó el análisis en 184 muestras, correspondientes a 104 controles y 80 pacientes con urolitiasis. Con el objeto de validar el método y posteriormente establecer un rango de excreción normal en la población colombiana se evaluaron los siguientes parámetros: exactitud, precisión, linealidad y límite de detección. La técnica mostró coeficientes de variación intra e inter ensayos inferiores al 10% y una excelente linealidad, con un coeficiente r² entre concentraciones conocidas de cistina y absorbancia generada por el método de 0,998. Usando esta técnica se encontró un valor normal de excreción de 1,35 a 110,11 mg cistina/g creatinina. En cinco pacientes, de los 80 con nefrolitiasis, se hallaron valores elevados de cistina, compatibles con cistinuria. El método utilizado puede implementarse en cualquier laboratorio clínico para confirmar el diagnóstico de cistinuria e iniciar un tratamiento oportuno.

Cystinuria is an inborn error of metabolism, caused by a defect in renal tubular transport of the following aminoacids: arginine, ornithine, lysine and cystine. Accumulation of the latter poorly soluble aminoacid leads to the development of kidney stones, characteristic of the disease. In this study, an easy and dependable spectrophotometric method for the quantitative determination of urinary cystine was standardized. The analysis was performed on 184 samples from 104 controls and 80 patients with kidney stones. In order to validate the method and later establish a range of normal urinary cystine excretion in the Colombian population, the following parameters were evaluated: Accuracy, precision, linearity and lower limit of detection. The technique showed intra and intei assay coefficients of variation below 10%, and excellent linearity, with an R square (r²) coefficient between known cystine concentrations and absorbance generated by the method at 0.998. Using this technique, a normal urinary cystine excretion range of 1.35-110.11 mg cystine/g creatinine was found. Among the 80 patients with kidney stones, elevated urinary cystine levels were found in 5 of them, compatible with the presence of cystinuria. This method can be implemented in any clinical laboratory to confirm the diagnosis of cystinuria and provide opportune treatment.

A cistinúria é um erro inato do metabolismo, causado por um defeito no transporte tubular renal de ar-ginina, ornitina, lisina e cistina. A acumulagáo deste último aminoácido, pouco solúvel, provoca episodios de urolitíase, característicos da doenga. No presente estudo, foi padronizado um método espectrofotomé-trico confiável e de fácil execugáo para a determinagáo quantitativa de cistina em urina espontánea. A análise foi realizada em 184 amostras de 104 controles e 80 pacientes com urolitíase. A fim de validar o método e, posteriormente, estabelecer um intervalo de excregao normal na populagao colombiana, foram avaliados os seguintes parámetros: exatidáo, precisáo, linearidade e limite inferior de detecgáo. O método mostrou coeficientes de variagáo intra e inter ensaios inferiores a 10%, e excelente linearidade, com um coeficiente R quadrado (r²) entre concentragoes conhecidas de cistina e absorváncia gerada pelo método de 0,998. Com esta técnica, foi encontrado um valor normal de excregáo de 1,35-110,11 mg cistina/g de creatinina. Entre os 80 pacientes com urolitíase, foram encontrados níveis elevados de cistina em cinco deles, compatíveis com a presenga de cistinúria. Este método pode ser implementado em qualquer laboratorio clínico para confirmar o diagnóstico de cistinúria e proporcionar um tratamento oportuno.

Cistinúria - relato de caso e revisäo de literatura / Cystinuria - report of case and revision of literature

Cistinúria é uma doença genética autossômica recessiva, que na forma heterozigota leva a moderadas excreçöes dos aminoácidos cistina, lisina, arginina e ornitina na urina, e na forma homozigota leva à perda maciça dos quatro aminoácidos na urina e alto risco de formaçäo de cálculos renais. Descrevemos aqui o caso de uma criança, com história familiar de formaçäo de cálculos renais, que começou a eliminá-los aos 2 meses de idade, sendo diagnosticada e tratada 4 meses depois. Atualmente, com 4 anos de idade, apresenta funçäo renal normal, teve um episódio de infecçäo urinária e eliminou 10 cálculos após o início do tratamento. Foi submetida a procedimemto cirúrgico para retirada de um cálculo. Nos últimos 3 anos, sob tratamento, näo houve eliminaçäo ou evidência de formaçäo de cálculos renais.(au)

Relato de caso: ocorrência de doença de Crohn em uma paciente com cistinúria e retardo mental / Crohn's disease in a patient presenting with cystinuria and mental retardation

Uma mulher de 55 anos apresenta cistinúria, doença de Crohn e retardo mental. As manifestaçöes clínicas da doença de Crohn começaram aos 49 anos de idade. Um cálculo renal foi detectado aos 50 anos de idade e tratado com litotripsia extracorpórea. Cistinúria foi foi diagnosticada pelo encontro de cristais de cistina no sedimento urinário aos 55 anos de idade. O teste do nitroprussiato foi positivo. Na literatura, näo se encontram relatos da associaçäo dessas três entidades.(au)

Nefrolitiasis: bases fisiopatologicas y metabolicas. / Nephrolithiasis: pathophysiological and metabolic basis

Esta revision analiza las bases metabolicas de la nefrolitiasis. La litiasis calcica es la mas frecuente, siendo sus causas mas comunes la hipercalciuria idiopatica; la hiperuricosuria; el hiperparatiroidismo primario; la acidosis tubular distal y la hiperoxaluria secundaria. Las litiasis de acido urico, cistina y estruvita le siguen en orden decreciente de frecuencia. En cada uno de los tipos de litiasis urinaria mencionados se detallan los mecanismos fisiopatologicos que llevan a la alteracion metabolica calculogenica

Cystinuria in the South of Brazil

Com o objetivo de estimar a prevalência de cistinuria numa área localizada no sul do Brasil, foram coletadas amostras ocasionais de urina de 827 pacientes com litíase urinária da regiäo de Porto alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. As amostras de urina foram submetidas ao teste do cianeto-nitroprussiato, à cromatografia em camada delgada de aminoácidos e à determinaçäo quantitativa dos aminoácidos por cromatografia de troca iônica. Foram detectados 7 pacientes com cistinúria na amostra estudada (0,84%). Ainda que essa freqüência näo seja superior a observada em diversos outros estudos, a identificaçäo de vários casos de cistinúria mostra que a doença existe no sul do Brasil, näo sendo muito rara entre pacientes com litíase urinária. Como é uma doença tratável e facilmente detectável por um método de triagem simples e econômico, os autores sugerem que o teste de triagem para cistinúria seja realizado, também na nossa regiäo, em todos os pacientes com litíase urinária. Os autores säo de opiniäo que o protocolo empregado no presente trabalho oferece uma abordagem racional para a triagem de cistinúria num país com as características do Brasil

Estudo metabolico da nefrolitiase na infancia: avaliacao em cinquenta criancas litiasicas / Metabolic study of the nephrolitiasis in the childhood: evaluation in fifty lithyasic children

Para avaliar os fatores litogenicos, estudamos retrospectivamente, com relacao a idade, ao sexo, a manifestacao clinicas e antecedentes, cinquenta criancas com nefrolitiase. Todas elas foram submetidas a protocolo prospectivo que constou dos seguintes exames: urina I, urocultura, urinas de 24 horas para dosagem de calcio, acido urico e creatinina, urografia excretora, uretrocistografia miccional, ultra-som renal e prova de sobrecarga oral de calcio. As criancas foram classificadas quanto ao disturbio metabolico conforme criteiros ja estabelecidos. Das cinquenta criancas estudadas apenas 7 (14//) nao apresentaram anormalidade metabolica. Encontramos hipercalciuria renal (HCaR) em 17 (34//); absorvida (HAInt) em 16 (32//); hiperuricosuria (HEAcUr) em 7 (14//) e infeccao dotrato urinario (ITU) em 4 (8//). Observamos um caso de cistinuria. Atraves deste estudo pudemos verificar a importancia da avaliacao metabolica para proposicao de terapeutica especifica para cada caso, principalmente se considerarmos que em 86// das criancas estudadas houve deteccao de alguma, alteracao metabolica

Nuevos conocimientos del transporte de aminoácidos aniónicos y catiónicos / Advances in the study of anionic and cationic amino acid transport

En las células de mamíferos, los aminoácidos son captados por diferentes sistemas de transporte presentes en la membrana plasmática. Los sistemas de transporte originalmente se caracterizaron a través de estudios cinéticos y de competencias. Sin embargo, el asignamiento de algunos aminoácidos a un sistema de transporte específico había sido difícil. Con los avances en biología molecular ha sido posible identificar a las proteínas de los transportadores para aminoácidos específicos. En esta revisión se describen los sintomas de transporte para aminoácidos aniónicos y catiónicos que se han reportado a nivel molecular. Los aminoácidos aniónicos se movilizan principalmente a través de los sistemas XAG- y Xc-, los cuales son de particular relevancia en la inactivación de la transmisión nerviosa glutamatérgica en el cerebro y en la síntesis de glutation, respectivamente. Se han descrito cuatro isoformas cerebrales del sistema XAG- pertenecientes a la familia de transportadores de aminoácidos dependientes de Na+. Los sistemas de transporte para los aminoácidos catiónicos también reconocen sustratos zwitteriónicos, y los más estudiados son el y+, y+L, bº + y Bº + La regulación de la entrada de aminoácidos catiónicos tales como la arginina, lisina, y ornitina es importante en la biosíntesis de oxido nítrico, creatina, carnitina y poliaminas. La cisteinuría es un defecto hereditario asociado al sistema bº +