Germline C1GALT1C1 mutation causes a multisystem chaperonopathy.

Mutations in genes encoding molecular chaperones can lead to chaperonopathies, but none have so far been identified causing congenital disorders of glycosylation. Here we identified two maternal half-brothers with a novel chaperonopathy, causing impaired protein O-glycosylation. The patients have a decreased activity of T-synthase (C1GALT1), an enzyme that exclusively synthesizes the T-antigen, a ubiquitous O-glycan core structure and precursor for all extended O-glycans. The T-synthase function is dependent on its specific molecular chaperone Cosmc, which is encoded by X-chromosomal C1GALT1C1. Both patients carry the hemizygous variant c.59C>A (p.Ala20Asp; A20D-Cosmc) in C1GALT1C1. They exhibit developmental delay, immunodeficiency, short stature, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury (AKI) resembling atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Their heterozygous mother and maternal grandmother show an attenuated phenotype with skewed X-inactivation in blood. AKI in the male patients proved fully responsive to treatment with the complement inhibitor Eculizumab. This germline variant occurs within the transmembrane domain of Cosmc, resulting in dramatically reduced expression of the Cosmc protein. Although A20D-Cosmc is functional, its decreased expression, though in a cell or tissue-specific manner, causes a large reduction of T-synthase protein and activity, which accordingly leads to expression of varied amounts of pathological Tn-antigen (GalNAcα1-O-Ser/Thr/Tyr) on multiple glycoproteins. Transient transfection of patient lymphoblastoid cells with wild-type C1GALT1C1 partially rescued the T-synthase and glycosylation defect. Interestingly, all four affected individuals have high levels of galactose-deficient IgA1 in sera. These results demonstrate that the A20D-Cosmc mutation defines a novel O-glycan chaperonopathy and causes the altered O-glycosylation status in these patients.

De novo TRIM8 variants impair its protein localization to nuclear bodies and cause developmental delay, epilepsy, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is the main pathology underlying steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) and a leading cause of chronic kidney disease. Monogenic forms of pediatric SRNS are predominantly caused by recessive mutations, while the contribution of de novo variants (DNVs) to this trait is poorly understood. Using exome sequencing (ES) in a proband with FSGS/SRNS, developmental delay, and epilepsy, we discovered a nonsense DNV in TRIM8, which encodes the E3 ubiquitin ligase tripartite motif containing 8. To establish whether TRIM8 variants represent a cause of FSGS, we aggregated exome/genome-sequencing data for 2,501 pediatric FSGS/SRNS-affected individuals and 48,556 control subjects, detecting eight heterozygous TRIM8 truncating variants in affected subjects but none in control subjects (p = 3.28 × 10-11). In all six cases with available parental DNA, we demonstrated de novo inheritance (p = 2.21 × 10-15). Reverse phenotyping revealed neurodevelopmental disease in all eight families. We next analyzed ES from 9,067 individuals with epilepsy, yielding three additional families with truncating TRIM8 variants. Clinical review revealed FSGS in all. All TRIM8 variants cause protein truncation clustering within the last exon between residues 390 and 487 of the 551 amino acid protein, indicating a correlation between this syndrome and loss of the TRIM8 C-terminal region. Wild-type TRIM8 overexpressed in immortalized human podocytes and neuronal cells localized to nuclear bodies, while constructs harboring patient-specific variants mislocalized diffusely to the nucleoplasm. Co-localization studies demonstrated that Gemini and Cajal bodies frequently abut a TRIM8 nuclear body. Truncating TRIM8 DNVs cause a neuro-renal syndrome via aberrant TRIM8 localization, implicating nuclear bodies in FSGS and developmental brain disease.

Development of a tool for predicting HNF1B mutations in children and young adults with congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to develop a tool for predicting HNF1B mutations in children with congenital abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT). METHODS: The clinical and laboratory data from 234 children and young adults with known HNF1B mutation status were collected and analyzed retrospectively. All subjects were randomly divided into a training (70%) and a validation set (30%). A random forest model was constructed to predict HNF1B mutations. The recursive feature elimination algorithm was used for feature selection for the model, and receiver operating characteristic curve statistics was used to verify its predictive effect. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients were analyzed, including HNF1B-positive (mut + , n = 109) and HNF1B-negative (mut - , n = 104) subjects. The majority of patients had mild chronic kidney disease. Kidney phenotype was similar between groups, but bilateral kidney anomalies were more frequent in the mut + group. Hypomagnesemia and hypermagnesuria were the most common abnormalities in mut + patients and were highly selective of HNF1B. Hypomagnesemia based on age-appropriate norms had a better discriminatory value than the age-independent cutoff of 0.7 mmol/l. Pancreatic anomalies were almost exclusively found in mut + patients. No subjects had hypokalemia; the mean serum potassium level was lower in the HNF1B cohort. The abovementioned, discriminative parameters were selected for the model, which showed a good performance (area under the curve: 0.85; sensitivity of 93.67%, specificity of 73.57%). A corresponding calculator was developed for use and validation. CONCLUSIONS: This study developed a simple tool for predicting HNF1B mutations in children and young adults with CAKUT.

Genetic assessment in primary hyperoxaluria: why it matters.

Accurate diagnosis of primary hyperoxaluria (PH) has important therapeutic consequences. Since biochemical assessment can be unreliable, genetic testing is a crucial diagnostic tool for patients with PH to define the disease type. Patients with PH type 1 (PH1) have a worse prognosis than those with other PH types, despite the same extent of oxalate excretion. The relation between genotype and clinical phenotype in PH1 is extremely heterogeneous with respect to age of first symptoms and development of kidney failure. Some mutations are significantly linked to pyridoxine-sensitivity in PH1, such as homozygosity for p.G170R and p.F152I combined with a common polymorphism. Although patients with these mutations display on average better outcomes, they may also present with CKD stage 5 in infancy. In vitro studies suggest pyridoxine-sensitivity for some other mutations, but confirmatory clinical data are lacking (p.G47R, p.G161R, p.I56N/major allele) or scarce (p.I244T). These studies also suggest that other vitamin B6 derivatives than pyridoxine may be more effective and should be a focus for clinical testing. PH patients displaying the same mutation, even within one family, may have completely different clinical outcomes. This discordance may be caused by environmental or genetic factors that are unrelated to the effect of the causative mutation(s). No relation between genotype and clinical or biochemical phenotypes have been found so far in PH types 2 and 3. This manuscript reviews the current knowledge on the genetic background of the three types of primary hyperoxaluria and its impact on clinical management, including prenatal diagnosis.

The retinal phenotype in primary hyperoxaluria type 2 and 3.

BACKGROUND: The primary hyperoxalurias (PH1-3) are rare inherited disorders of the glyoxylate metabolism characterized by endogenous overproduction of oxalate. As oxalate cannot be metabolized by humans, oxalate deposits may affect various organs, primarily the kidneys, bones, heart, and eyes. Vision loss induced by severe retinal deposits is commonly seen in infantile PH1; less frequently and milder retinal alterations are found in non-infantile PH1. Retinal disease has not systematically been investigated in patients with PH2 and PH3. METHODS: A comprehensive ophthalmic examination was performed in 19 genetically confirmed PH2 (n = 7) and PH3 (n = 12) patients (median age 11 years, range 3-59). RESULTS: Median best corrected visual acuity was 20/20. In 18 patients, no retinal oxalate deposits were found. A 30-year-old male with PH2 on maintenance hemodialysis with plasma oxalate (Pox) elevation (> 100 µmol/l; normal < 7.4) demonstrated bilateral drusen-like, hyperreflective deposits which were interpreted as crystallized oxalate. Two siblings of consanguineous parents with PH2 presented with retinal degeneration and vision loss; exome-wide analysis identified a second monogenic disease, NR2E3-associated retinal dystrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal disease manifestation in PH2 and PH3 is rare but mild changes can occur at least in PH2-associated kidney failure. Decline in kidney function associated with elevated plasma oxalate levels could increase the risk of systemic oxalosis. Deep phenotyping combined with genomic profiling is vital to differentiate extrarenal disease in multisystem disorders such as PH from independent inherited (retinal) disease. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Consensus draft of the native mouse podocyte-ome.

The podocyte is a key cell in maintaining renal filtration barrier integrity. Several recent studies have analyzed the genome and transcriptome in the podocyte at deep resolution. This avenue of "podocyte-ome" research was enabled by a variety of techniques, including 1) single-cell transcriptomics, 2) FACS with and without genetically encoded markers, and 3) deep proteomics. However, data across various omics techniques and studies are currently not well integrated with each other. Here, we aimed to establish a common, simplified knowledge base for the mouse podocyte-ome by integrating bulk RNA sequencing, bulk proteomics of FACS-sorted podocytes, and single-cell transcriptomics. Three publicly available datasets of each omics technique from different laboratories were bioinformatically integrated and visualized. Our approach not only revealed conserved processes of podocytes but also sheds light on the benefits and limitations of the used technologies. We identified that high expression of glycan glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor synthesis and turnover, as well as retinol metabolism, were relatively understudied features of podocytes. In addition, actin-binding molecules were organized in a podocyte-specific manner, as evidenced by differential expression in podocytes compared with other glomerular cells. We compiled a Web-based "PodIent" application that illustrates the features of the integrated dataset. This enables user-driven exploratory analysis by querying genes of interest for podocyte identity in absolute and relative quantification while also linking to functional annotation using keywords, Gene Ontology terms, and gene set enrichments. This consensus draft is a first step toward common molecular omics knowledge of kidney cells.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Podocytes are key components of glomerular filtration and are affected in various kidney diseases. Here, we present an integrated, robust definition of molecular identity across proteomic, single-cell transcriptomics, and bulk transcriptomic studies on native mouse podocytes. We created the "PodIdent" app, a novel knowledge base promoting access to the presence and expression of specific proteins for podocytes.

Diverse molecular causes of unsolved autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney diseases.

Autosomal Dominant Tubulointerstitial Kidney Disease (ADTKD) is caused by mutations in one of at least five genes and leads to kidney failure usually in mid adulthood. Throughout the literature, variable numbers of families have been reported, where no mutation can be found and therefore termed ADTKD-not otherwise specified. Here, we aim to clarify the genetic cause of their diseases in our ADTKD registry. Sequencing for all known ADTKD genes was performed, followed by SNaPshot minisequencing for the dupC (an additional cytosine within a stretch of seven cytosines) mutation of MUC1. A virtual panel containing 560 genes reported in the context of kidney disease (nephrome) and exome sequencing were then analyzed sequentially. Variants were validated and tested for segregation. In 29 of the 45 registry families, mutations in known ADTKD genes were found, mostly in MUC1. Sixteen families could then be termed ADTKD-not otherwise specified, of which nine showed diagnostic variants in the nephrome (four in COL4A5, two in INF2 and one each in COL4A4, PAX2, SALL1 and PKD2). In the other seven families, exome sequencing analysis yielded potential disease associated variants in novel candidate genes for ADTKD; evaluated by database analyses and genome-wide association studies. For the great majority of our ADTKD registry we were able to reach a molecular genetic diagnosis. However, a small number of families are indeed affected by diseases classically described as a glomerular entity. Thus, incomplete clinical phenotyping and atypical clinical presentation may have led to the classification of ADTKD. The identified novel candidate genes by exome sequencing will require further functional validation.

Mutations of ADAMTS9 Cause Nephronophthisis-Related Ciliopathy.

Nephronophthisis-related ciliopathies (NPHP-RCs) are a group of inherited diseases that are associated with defects in primary cilium structure and function. To identify genes mutated in NPHP-RC, we performed homozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing for >100 individuals, some of whom were single affected individuals born to consanguineous parents and some of whom were siblings of indexes who were also affected by NPHP-RC. We then performed high-throughput exon sequencing in a worldwide cohort of 800 additional families affected by NPHP-RC. We identified two ADAMTS9 mutations (c.4575_4576del [p.Gln1525Hisfs∗60] and c.194C>G [p.Thr65Arg]) that appear to cause NPHP-RC. Although ADAMTS9 is known to be a secreted extracellular metalloproteinase, we found that ADAMTS9 localized near the basal bodies of primary cilia in the cytoplasm. Heterologously expressed wild-type ADAMTS9, in contrast to mutant proteins detected in individuals with NPHP-RC, localized to the vicinity of the basal body. Loss of ADAMTS9 resulted in shortened cilia and defective sonic hedgehog signaling. Knockout of Adamts9 in IMCD3 cells, followed by spheroid induction, resulted in defective lumen formation, which was rescued by an overexpression of wild-type, but not of mutant, ADAMTS9. Knockdown of adamts9 in zebrafish recapitulated NPHP-RC phenotypes, including renal cysts and hydrocephalus. These findings suggest that the identified mutations in ADAMTS9 cause NPHP-RC and that ADAMTS9 is required for the formation and function of primary cilia.

Alport syndrome and autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease frequently underlie end-stage renal disease of unknown origin-a single-center analysis.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of end-stage renal disease of unknown etiology in adult patients is globally high and accounts for almost 20% of all dialysis patients. Recent studies have suggested that the percentage of adult patients with a causal genetic variant has been underestimated so far. Despite severe prognostic and therapeutic implications, awareness about prevalence and manifestations of genetic kidney diseases in adult renal patients is still limited. METHODS: We recruited 58 individuals from 39 families at our transplantation center, fulfilling at least one of the following criteria: (i) unclear etiology of kidney disease, (ii) clinically suspected genetic kidney disease and (iii) positive family history for nephropathies. The cohort consisted of patients waitlisted for kidney transplantation and patients in the follow-up after transplantation. Detailed documentation of family history and phenotype was obtained before initiating gene panel sequencing of 479 nephropathy-associated genes. RESULTS: With this study design, a molecular genetic diagnosis was established in one-third of all patients. Mutations in the collagen COL4A genes, and mutations in MUC1 and UMOD were the most frequent among all detected causal variants. Overall, rare genetic variants were detected in more than half of all cases. CONCLUSION: The combination of detailed phenotyping prior to next-generation sequencing diagnostics was highly efficient. Elucidating the underlying genetic causes in a cohort of adult renal patients has considerable clinical impact on medical management.

Lifelong effect of therapy in young patients with the COL4A5 Alport missense variant p.(Gly624Asp): a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) have evolved as a first-line therapy for delaying end-stage renal failure (ESRF) in Alport syndrome (AS). The present study tested the hypothesis of a superior nephroprotective potential of an early ACEi intervention, examining a cohort with the COL4A5 missense variant p.(Gly624Asp). METHODS: In this observational cohort study (NCT02378805), 114 individuals with the identical gene variant were explored for age at ESRF and life expectancy in correlation with treatment as endpoints. RESULTS: All 13 untreated hemizygous patients developed ESRF (mean age 48.9 ± 13.7 years), as did 3 very late treated hemizygotes (51.7 ± 4.2 years), with a mean life expectancy of 59.2 ± 9.6 years. All 28 earlier-treated [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2] hemizygous patients were still alive and still had not reached ESRF. Therapy minimized the annual loss of their GFR, similar to the annual loss in healthy individuals. Of 65 heterozygotes, 4 untreated individuals developed ESRF at an age of 53.3 ± 20.7 years. None of the treated heterozygous females developed ESRF. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, this study shows that in AS, early therapy in individuals with missense variants might have the potential to delay renal failure for their lifetime and thus to improve life expectancy and quality of life without the need for renal replacement therapy. Some treated patients have reached their retirement age with still-functioning kidneys, whereas their untreated relatives have reached ESRF at the same or a younger age. Thus, in children with glomerular haematuria, early testing for Alport-related gene variants could lead to timely nephroprotective intervention.

mTOR-Activating Mutations in RRAGD Are Causative for Kidney Tubulopathy and Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Over the last decade, advances in genetic techniques have resulted in the identification of rare hereditary disorders of renal magnesium and salt handling. Nevertheless, approximately 20% of all patients with tubulopathy lack a genetic diagnosis. METHODS: We performed whole-exome and -genome sequencing of a patient cohort with a novel, inherited, salt-losing tubulopathy; hypomagnesemia; and dilated cardiomyopathy. We also conducted subsequent in vitro functional analyses of identified variants of RRAGD, a gene that encodes a small Rag guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase). RESULTS: In eight children from unrelated families with a tubulopathy characterized by hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia, salt wasting, and nephrocalcinosis, we identified heterozygous missense variants in RRAGD that mostly occurred de novo. Six of these patients also had dilated cardiomyopathy and three underwent heart transplantation. We identified a heterozygous variant in RRAGD that segregated with the phenotype in eight members of a large family with similar kidney manifestations. The GTPase RagD, encoded by RRAGD, plays a role in mediating amino acid signaling to the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). RagD expression along the mammalian nephron included the thick ascending limb and the distal convoluted tubule. The identified RRAGD variants were shown to induce a constitutive activation of mTOR signaling in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings establish a novel disease, which we call autosomal dominant kidney hypomagnesemia (ADKH-RRAGD), that combines an electrolyte-losing tubulopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy. The condition is caused by variants in the RRAGD gene, which encodes Rag GTPase D; these variants lead to an activation of mTOR signaling, suggesting a critical role of Rag GTPase D for renal electrolyte handling and cardiac function.

A report from the European Hyperoxaluria Consortium (OxalEurope) Registry on a large cohort of patients with primary hyperoxaluria type 3.

Outcome data in primary hyperoxaluria type 3 (PH3), described as a less severe form of the PH's with a low risk of chronic kidney disease, are scarce. To investigate this, we retrospectively analyzed the largest PH3 cohort reported so far. Of 95 patients, 74 were followed over a median of six years. Median age of first symptoms and diagnosis were 1.9 and 6.3 years, respectively. Urolithiasis was the major clinical feature observed in 70% of pediatric and 50% of adult patients. At most recent follow-up available for 56 of the 95 patients, 21.4% were in chronic kidney disease stages 2 or more. For better characterization, samples from 49 patients were analyzed in a single laboratory and compared to data from patients with PH1 and PH2 from the same center. Urinary oxalate excretion was not significantly different from PH1 and PH2 (median: 1.37, 1.40 and 1.16 mmol/1.73m2/24hours for PH1 not responsive to vitamin B6, PH2, and PH3, respectively) but was significantly higher than in vitamin B6 responsive patients with PH1. Urinary oxalate excretion did not correlate to stone production rate nor to estimated glomerular filtration rate. Normocitraturia was present even without alkalinisation treatment; hypercalciuria was found rarely. Median plasma oxalate was significantly different only to the vitamin B6-unresponsive PH1 group. Thus, PH3 is more comparable to PH1 and PH2 than so far inferred from smaller studies. It is the most favorable PH type, but not a benign entity as it constitutes an early onset, recurrent stone disease, and kidney function can be impaired.

NPHP1 gene-associated nephronophthisis is associated with an occult retinopathy.

Biallelic deletions in the NPHP1 gene are the most frequent molecular defect of nephronophthisis, a kidney ciliopathy and leading cause of hereditary end-stage kidney disease. Nephrocystin 1, the gene product of NPHP1, is also expressed in photoreceptors where it plays an important role in intra-flagellar transport between the inner and outer segments. However, the human retinal phenotype has never been investigated in detail. Here, we characterized retinal features of 16 patients with homozygous deletions of the entire NPHP1 gene. Retinal assessment included multimodal imaging (optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence) and visual function testing (visual acuity, full-field electroretinography, color vision, visual field). Fifteen patients had a mild retinal phenotype that predominantly affected cones, but with relative sparing of the fovea. Despite a predominant cone dysfunction, night vision problems were an early symptom in some cases. The consistent retinal phenotype on optical coherence tomography images included reduced reflectivity and often a granular appearance of the ellipsoid zone, fading or loss of the interdigitation zone, and mild outer retinal thinning. However, there were usually no obvious structural changes visible upon clinical examination and fundus autofluorescence imaging (occult retinopathy). More advanced retinal degeneration might occur with ageing. An identified additional CEP290 variant in one patient with a more severe retinal degeneration may indicate a potential role for genetic modifiers, although this requires further investigation. Thus, diagnostic awareness about this distinct retinal phenotype has implications for the differential diagnosis of nephronophthisis and for individual prognosis of visual function.

Refining genotype-phenotype correlations in 304 patients with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease and PKHD1 gene variants.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a severe disease of early childhood that is clinically characterized by fibrocystic changes of the kidneys and the liver. The main cause of ARPKD are variants in the PKHD1 gene encoding the large transmembrane protein fibrocystin. The mechanisms underlying the observed clinical heterogeneity in ARPKD remain incompletely understood, partly due to the fact that genotype-phenotype correlations have been limited to the association of biallelic null variants in PKHD1 with the most severe phenotypes. In this observational study we analyzed a deep clinical dataset of 304 patients with ARPKD from two independent cohorts and identified novel genotype-phenotype correlations during childhood and adolescence. Biallelic null variants frequently show severe courses. Additionally, our data suggest that the affected region in PKHD1 is important in determining the phenotype. Patients with two missense variants affecting amino acids 709-1837 of fibrocystin or a missense variant in this region and a null variant less frequently developed chronic kidney failure, and patients with missense variants affecting amino acids 1838-2624 showed better hepatic outcome. Variants affecting amino acids 2625-4074 of fibrocystin were associated with poorer hepatic outcome. Thus, our data expand the understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations in pediatric ARPKD patients and can lay the foundation for more precise and personalized counselling and treatment approaches.

Germline De Novo Mutations in ATP1A1 Cause Renal Hypomagnesemia, Refractory Seizures, and Intellectual Disability.

Over the last decades, a growing spectrum of monogenic disorders of human magnesium homeostasis has been clinically characterized, and genetic studies in affected individuals have identified important molecular components of cellular and epithelial magnesium transport. Here, we describe three infants who are from non-consanguineous families and who presented with a disease phenotype consisting of generalized seizures in infancy, severe hypomagnesemia, and renal magnesium wasting. Seizures persisted despite magnesium supplementation and were associated with significant intellectual disability. Whole-exome sequencing and conventional Sanger sequencing identified heterozygous de novo mutations in the catalytic Na+, K+-ATPase α1 subunit (ATP1A1). Functional characterization of mutant Na+, K+-ATPase α1 subunits in heterologous expression systems revealed not only a loss of Na+, K+-ATPase function but also abnormal cation permeabilities, which led to membrane depolarization and possibly aggravated the effect of the loss of physiological pump activity. These findings underline the indispensable role of the α1 isoform of the Na+, K+-ATPase for renal-tubular magnesium handling and cellular ion homeostasis, as well as maintenance of physiologic neuronal activity.

Proteome Analysis of Isolated Podocytes Reveals Stress Responses in Glomerular Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Understanding podocyte-specific responses to injury at a systems level is difficult because injury leads to podocyte loss or an increase of extracellular matrix, altering glomerular cellular composition. Finding a window into early podocyte injury might help identify molecular pathways involved in the podocyte stress response. METHODS: We developed an approach to apply proteome analysis to very small samples of purified podocyte fractions. To examine podocytes in early disease states in FSGS mouse models, we used podocyte fractions isolated from individual mice after chemical induction of glomerular disease (with Doxorubicin or LPS). We also applied single-glomerular proteome analysis to tissue from patients with FSGS. RESULTS: Transcriptome and proteome analysis of glomeruli from patients with FSGS revealed an underrepresentation of podocyte-specific genes and proteins in late-stage disease. Proteome analysis of purified podocyte fractions from FSGS mouse models showed an early stress response that includes perturbations of metabolic, mechanical, and proteostasis proteins. Additional analysis revealed a high correlation between the amount of proteinuria and expression levels of the mechanosensor protein Filamin-B. Increased expression of Filamin-B in podocytes in biopsy samples from patients with FSGS, in single glomeruli from proteinuric rats, and in podocytes undergoing mechanical stress suggests that this protein has a role in detrimental stress responses. In Drosophila, nephrocytes with reduced filamin homolog Cher displayed altered filtration capacity, but exhibited no change in slit diaphragm structure. CONCLUSIONS: We identified conserved mechanisms of the podocyte stress response through ultrasensitive proteome analysis of human glomerular FSGS tissue and purified native mouse podocytes during early disease stages. This approach enables systematic comparisons of large-scale proteomics data and phenotype-to-protein correlation.

Clinical profile of a Polish cohort of children and young adults with cystinuria.

BACKGROUND: Cystinuria is an inherited disorder that results in increased excretion of cystine in the urine. It accounts for about 1-2% of pediatric kidney stones. In this study, we sought to identify the clinical characteristics of patients with cystinuria in a national cohort. METHODS: This was a retrospective study involving 30 patients from the Polish Registry of Inherited Tubulopathies. Initial data and that from a 6-month follow-up were analyzed. Mutational analysis was performed by targeted Sanger sequencing and, if applicable, MLPA analysis was used to detect large rearrangements. RESULTS: SLC7A9 mutations were detected in 15 children (50%; 10 males, 5 females), SLC3A1 mutations in 14 children (47%; 5 males, 9 females), and bigenic mutations in one male patient. The first clinical symptoms of the disease were detected at a median of 48 months of age (range 3-233 months). When individuals with different mutations were compared, there were no differences identified in gender, age of diagnosis, presence of UTI or urolithiasis, eGFR, calcium, or cystine excretion. The most common initial symptoms were urolithiasis in 26 patients (88%) and urinary tract infections in 4 patients (13%). Urological procedures were performed in 18 out of 30 (60%). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical course of cystinuria is similar among patients, regardless of the type of genetic mutation. Most patients require surgery before diagnosis or soon after it. Patients require combined urological and pharmacological treatment for prevention of stone recurrence and renal function preservation.

The recurrent postzygotic pathogenic variant p.Glu47Lys in RHOA causes a novel recognizable neuroectodermal phenotype.

RHOA is a member of the Rho family of GTPases that are involved in fundamental cellular processes including cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation. RHOA can stimulate the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions and is a key regulator of actomyosin dynamics in various tissues. In a Genematcher-facilitated collaboration, we were able to identify four unrelated individuals with a specific phenotype characterized by hypopigmented areas of the skin, dental anomalies, body asymmetry, and limb length discrepancy due to hemihypotrophy of one half of the body, as well as brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) anomalies. Using whole-exome and ultra-deep amplicon sequencing and comparing genomic data of affected and unaffected areas of the skin, we discovered that all four individuals carried the identical RHOA missense variant, c.139G>A; p.Glu47Lys, in a postzygotic state. Molecular modeling and in silico analysis of the affected p.Glu47Lys residue in RHOA indicated that this exchange is predicted to specifically alter the interaction of RHOA with its downstream effectors containing a PKN-type binding domain and thereby disrupts its ability to activate signaling. Our findings indicate that the recurrent postzygotic RHOA missense variant p.Glu47Lys causes a specific mosaic disorder in humans.

An international cohort study of autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease due to REN mutations identifies distinct clinical subtypes.

There have been few clinical or scientific reports of autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease due to REN mutations (ADTKD-REN), limiting characterization. To further study this, we formed an international cohort characterizing 111 individuals from 30 families with both clinical and laboratory findings. Sixty-nine individuals had a REN mutation in the signal peptide region (signal group), 27 in the prosegment (prosegment group), and 15 in the mature renin peptide (mature group). Signal group patients were most severely affected, presenting at a mean age of 19.7 years, with the prosegment group presenting at 22.4 years, and the mature group at 37 years. Anemia was present in childhood in 91% in the signal group, 69% prosegment, and none of the mature group. REN signal peptide mutations reduced hydrophobicity of the signal peptide, which is necessary for recognition and translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to aberrant delivery of preprorenin into the cytoplasm. REN mutations in the prosegment led to deposition of prorenin and renin in the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment and decreased prorenin secretion. Mutations in mature renin led to deposition of the mutant prorenin in the endoplasmic reticulum, similar to patients with ADTKD-UMOD, with a rate of progression to end stage kidney disease (63.6 years) that was significantly slower vs. the signal (53.1 years) and prosegment groups (50.8 years) (significant hazard ratio 0.367). Thus, clinical and laboratory studies revealed subtypes of ADTKD-REN that are pathophysiologically, diagnostically, and clinically distinct.

Hypomagnesemia is underestimated in children with HNF1B mutations.

BACKGROUND: Hypomagnesemia in patients with congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract or autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease is highly suggestive of HNF1B-associated disease. Intriguingly, the frequency of low serum Mg2+ (sMg) level varies and is lower in children than in adults with HNF1B mutations that could be partially due to application of inaccurate normal limit of sMg, irrespective of age and gender. We aimed to re-assess cross-sectionally and longitudinally the frequency of hypomagnesemia in HNF1B disease by using locally derived reference values of sMg. METHODS: Fourteen children with HNF1B-associated kidney disease were included. Control group comprising 110 subjects served to generate 2.5th percentiles of sMg as the lower limits of normal. RESULTS: In both controls and patients, sMg correlated with age, gender, and fractional excretion of Mg2+. In girls, sMg concentration was higher than in boys when analyzed in the entire age spectrum (p < 0.05). In HNF1B patients, mean sMg was lower than in controls as compared with respective gender- and age-specific interval (p < 0.001). Low sMg levels (< 0.7 mmol/l) were found in 21.4% of patients at diagnosis and 36.4% at last visit, which rose to 85.7% and 72.7% respectively when using the age- and gender-adjusted reference data. Similarly, in the longitudinal observation, 23% of sMg measurements were < 0.7 mmol/l versus 79.7% when applying respective references. CONCLUSIONS: Hypomagnesemia is underdiagnosed in children with HNF1B disease. sMg levels are age- and gender-dependent; thus, the use of appropriate reference data is crucial to hypomagnesemia in children.