A case of diffuse kidney hyperechogenicity in early childhood associated with biallelic PKHD1 variants.

BACKGROUND: Nephrocalcinosis (NC) is characterized by an excessive accumulation of calcium deposits in the kidneys. In children, it is often incidentally discovered with an uncertain prognosis. CASE-DIAGNOSIS/TREATMENT: A 3-month-old girl suspected to have a milk protein allergy underwent an ultrasound that revealed increased echogenicity in the kidney pyramids suggestive of medullary NC. At the age of 18 months, imaging findings revealed not only hyperechogenicity in the medulla but also in the cortex. Over the course of a long follow-up, her kidneys maintained size within the upper limits but showed an increase by age 7. Genetic analysis identified PKHD1 variants, which required structural predictive tools to guide clinical diagnosis. Until the age of 7, her kidney function has remained intact; however, her prognosis is uncertain. CONCLUSIONS: NC in newborns is a rare condition, but its incidence is rising. Recurrent urinary infections or kidney stones may lead to kidney failure. A proactive approach in sporadic NC enables an early diagnosis to orientate clinical supervision and facilitates counseling to support family planning decisions.

Atypical presentation of Pearson syndrome in an infant with suspected myelodysplastic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Anemia exhibits complex causation mechanisms and genetic heterogeneity. Some cases result in poor outcomes with multisystemic dysfunction, including renal tubulopathy. Early diagnosis is crucial to improve management. CASE-DIAGNOSIS/TREATMENT: A 21-month-old female patient was admitted with severe anemia. Persistent neutropenia and dysplastic signs suggested myelodysplastic syndrome, but targeted gene panel results were negative. After multiple transfusions, spontaneous hematologic recovery was observed. At 4 years old, she presented failure to thrive, renal Fanconi syndrome, and severe metabolic acidosis. Differential diagnosis included Pearson syndrome (PS), a life-threatening condition associated with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), featuring anemia and pancreatic insufficiency. Further analysis revealed a ~ 7.5 kb mtDNA deletion. Until the age of 5, supportive care has been provided, without pancreatic insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: This PS case highlights the importance of genetic testing, even in the absence of typical features. Understanding the nature of mitochondrial disorders enables treatment tailoring and counseling about the prognosis.

HUS with mutations in CFH and STEC infection treated with eculizumab in a 4-year-old girl.

BACKGROUND: Hemolytic uremic syndrome secondary to Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection (STEC-HUS) generally shows a favorable outcome. Few cases develop extra-renal complications, since neurological involvement is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The role of complement in STEC-HUS has been recently highlighted, and the use of eculizumab in severe cases has been communicated. HUS results from environmental and genetic factors, but the simultaneous occurrence of STEC and complement mutations remains undetermined. METHODS: A pediatric case with severe STEC-HUS carrying CFH mutations, with favorable response to eculizumab is analyzed. RESULTS: STEC-HUS was diagnosed in a 4-year-old girl with classic HUS, including low C3. Peritoneal dialysis was started due to hypertension, oligoanuria, and pleural effusion. She evolved with generalized tonic-clonic seizures and required mechanical ventilation. MRI reported multiple supra- and infratentorial ischemic lesions with laminar/striatal cortical necrosis and leukoencephalopathy. After two eculizumab doses, a significative stabilization in diuresis, blood pressure, creatinine, and C3 was achieved. At the third week, episodes of massive digestive bleeding and a life-threatening condition required a colectomy thus preserving the ileocecal valve. Due to atypical evolution, a genetic study was considered, identifying two heterozygous variants (CFH S1191L/V1197A). CONCLUSION: STEC-HUS in patients with a genetic predisposition has been previously reported, but the low frequency of occurrence makes it a rare disease. As in the present case, patients with atypical course might benefit from genetic analysis to evaluate early eculizumab initiation and to better understand its phenotype. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Gremlin and renal diseases: ready to jump the fence to clinical utility?

The current therapeutic strategy for the treatment of chronic kidney diseases only ameliorates disease progression. During renal injury, developmental genes are re-expressed and could be potential therapeutic targets. Among those genes reactivated in the adult damaged kidney, Gremlin is of particular relevance since recent data suggest that it could be a mediator of diabetic nephropathy and other progressive renal diseases. Earlier studies have shown that Gremlin is upregulated in trans-differentiated renal proximal tubular cells and in several chronic kidney diseases associated with fibrosis. However, not much was known about the mechanisms by which Gremlin acts in renal pathophysiology. The role of Gremlin as a bone morphogenetic protein antagonist has clearly been demonstrated in organogenesis and in fibrotic-related disorders. Gremlin binds to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in endothelial and tubular epithelial cells. Activation of the Gremlin-VEGFR2 axis was found in several human nephropathies. We have recently described that Gremlin activates the VEGFR2 signaling pathway in the kidney, eliciting a downstream mechanism linked to renal inflammatory response. Gremlin deletion improves experimental renal damage, diminishing fibrosis. Overall, the available data identify the Gremlin-VEGFR2 axis as a novel therapeutic target for kidney inflammation and fibrosis and provide a rationale for unveiling new concepts to investigate in several clinical conditions.

[Nephropatic cystinosis: report of one case]. / Cistinosis nefropática: caso clínico que ilustra diagnóstico molecular.

Nephropatic cystinosis (NC) is a rare disease associated with pathogenic variants in the CTNS gene, with a common variant that consists of a 57kb-deletion involving CTNS. Patients with NC that are treated with cysteamine improve their life quality and expectancy. We report a 12-month-old girl with a poor growth rate since the 4th month of life. She was admitted to the Hospital with acute kidney injury, severe dehydration and metabolic acidosis. She was treated with volume restorative and bicarbonate. Proximal tubulopathy and Fanconi's syndrome was diagnosed. Medical treatment improved renal function that was stabilized in stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD). Since infantile NC was suspected, CTNS genetic analysis was considered. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood to perform PCR for exons 3-12 in CTNS gene and for the specific 57kb-deletion PCR. Afterwards, variant segregation analysis was performed in the familiar trio. The genetic analysis showed that the patient was homozygous for the common 57kb-deletion encompassing CTNS that had been inherited from her asymptomatic heterozygous parents. The molecular confirmation allowed genetic counselling for parents and facilitated the access to cysteamine. Oral treatment with cysteamine resulted in improvement of renal function to CKD stage 3. After 16 months of treatment the patient shows metabolic stability and mild recovery of height. Ophthalmologic follow-up detected ocular cystine crystals 12 months after diagnosis, starting cysteamine drops.

Cost-effective PKHD1 genetic testing for autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Genetic diagnosis of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is challenging due to the length and allelic heterogeneity of the PKHD1 gene. Mutations appear to be clustered at specific exons, depending on the geographic origin of the patient. We aimed to identify the PKHD1 exons most likely mutated in Spanish ARPKD patients. METHODS: Mutation analysis was performed in 50 ARPKD probands and nine ARPKD-suspicious patients by sequencing PKHD1 exons arranged by their reported mutation frequency. Haplotypes containing the most frequent mutations were analyzed. Other PKD genes (HNF1B, PKD1, PKD2) were sequenced in PKHD1-negative cases. RESULTS: Thirty-six different mutations (concentrated in 24 PKHD1 exons) were detected, giving a mutation detection rate of 86%. The screening of five exons (58, 32, 34, 36, 37) yielded a 54% chance of detecting one mutation; the screening of nine additional exons (3, 9, 39, 61, 5, 22, 26, 41, 57) increased the chance to 76%. The c.9689delA mutation was present in 17 (34%) patients, all of whom shared the same haplotype. Two HNF1B mutations and one PKD1 variant were detected in negative cases. CONCLUSIONS: Establishing a PKHD1 exon mutation profile in a specific population and starting the analysis with the most likely mutated exons might significantly enhance the efficacy of genetic testing in ARPKD. Analysis of other PKD genes might be considered, especially in suspicious cases.

Case report: Unveiling a less severe congenital nephrotic syndrome in a Rapa Nui patient with a NPHS1 Maori founder variant.

Background: Congenital nephrotic syndrome (CNS) is a severe kidney disorder characterized by edema, massive proteinuria, and hypoalbuminemia that manifests in utero or within three months after birth. CNS affects 1-3 per 100,000 children, primarily associated with genetic variants and occasionally with infections. Genetic analysis is the first-line method for diagnosis. The most common founder variants have been identified in European populations, often resulting in end-stage kidney disease by 1-2 years of age. Case-diagnosis/treatment: A female full-term neonate, without prenatal signs of kidney disease, was admitted to Rapa Nui (Eastern Island) Hospital at the age of 2 months due to bronchial obstruction. She presented fever, oliguria, edema, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) 433.33, and hypoalbuminemia (0.9 g/dL). She was transferred to a mainland Chilean hospital following CNS diagnosis. Viral screening detected cytomegalovirus (CMV) positivity in both blood and urine. A kidney biopsy revealed interstitial nephritis and diffuse podocyte damage and the tissue PCR resulted negative for CMV. Interviews with the parents revealed consanguinity, suggestive of hereditary CNS. Genetic analysis identified the Maori founder variant, NPHS1 c.2131C>A (p.R711S), in homozygosis. The patient received albumin infusions and antiviral therapy, being discharged when she was 5 months old, with improved laboratory parameters evidenced by UPCR 28.55, albumin 2.5 g/dL, and cholesterol 190 mg/dL. Subsequent clinical monitoring was conducted through virtual and in-person consultations. At her last follow-up at 4 years 2 months old, she presented UPCR 16.1, albumin 3.3 g/dl and cholesterol 220 mg/dL, maintaining normal kidney function and adequate growth. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this represents the first case of CNS in Chile carrying a NPHS1 variant associated with prolonged kidney survival. As described in the Maori population, the patient exhibited a less severe clinical course compared to classical NPHS1 patients. Genetic testing for the Maori founder variant in CNS patients related to the New Zealand population, could impact management decisions and potentially prevent the need for nephrectomies.

Corrigendum: Case report: Unveiling a less severe congenital nephrotic syndrome in a Rapa Nui patient with a NPHS1 Maori founder variant.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fneph.2024.1379061.].

Evaluation of limited-sampling strategies to calculate AUC(0-24) and the role of CYP3A5 in Chilean pediatric kidney recipients using extended-release tacrolimus.

Background: Kidney transplantation (KTx) requires immunosuppressive drugs such as Tacrolimus (TAC) which is mainly metabolized by CYP3A5. TAC is routinely monitored by trough levels (C0) although it has not shown to be a reliable marker. The area-under-curve (AUC) is a more realistic measure of drug exposure, but sampling is challenging in pediatric patients. Limited-sampling strategies (LSS) have been developed to estimate AUC. Herein, we aimed to determine AUC(0-24) and CYP3A5 genotype in Chilean pediatric kidney recipients using extended-release TAC, to evaluate different LSS-AUC(0-24) formulas and dose requirements. Patients and methods: We analyzed pediatric kidney recipients using different extended-release TAC brands to determine their trapezoidal AUC(0-24) and CYP3A5 genotypes (SNP rs776746). Daily TAC dose (TAC-D mg/kg) and AUC(0-24) normalized by dose were compared between CYP3A5 expressors (*1/*1 and *1/*3) and non-expressors (*3/*3). We evaluated the single and combined time-points to identify the best LSS-AUC(0-24) model. We compared the performance of this model with two pediatric LSS-AUC(0-24) equations for clinical validation. Results: Fifty-one pharmacokinetic profiles were obtained from kidney recipients (age 13.1 ± 2.9 years). When normalizing AUC(0-24) by TAC-D significant differences were found between CYP3A5 expressors and non-expressors (1701.9 vs. 2718.1 ng*h/mL/mg/kg, p < 0.05). C0 had a poor fit with AUC(0-24) (r 2 = 0.5011). The model which included C0, C1 and C4, showed the best performance to predict LSS-AUC(0-24) (r 2 = 0.8765) and yielded the lowest precision error (7.1% ± 6.4%) with the lowest fraction (9.8%) of deviated AUC(0-24), in comparison to other LSS equations. Conclusion: Estimation of LSS-AUC(0-24) with 3 time-points is an advisable and clinically useful option for pediatric kidney recipients using extended-release TAC to provide better guidance of decisions if toxicity or drug inefficacy is suspected. The different CYP3A5 genotypes associated with variable dose requirements reinforce considering genotyping before KTx. Further multi-centric studies with admixed cohorts are needed to determine the short- and long-term clinical benefits.

CYP3A5 and UGT1A9 Polymorphisms Influence Immunosuppressive Therapy in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Background: Tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolic acid (MPA) are the main immunosuppressive drugs used in pediatric kidney transplantation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in metabolizing enzymes and transporters might influence plasma levels of these drugs. Herein, we sought to determine the influence of SNPs on CYP3A5, MRP2 and UGT1A9 genes in Chilean pediatric kidney recipients using TAC and MPA. Patients and Methods: A prospective study was performed on 104 pediatric kidney recipients that used TAC and MPA for immunosuppression. The median age at the time of transplantation was 8.1 years [Q1-Q3 4.5-11.6 years] and the main clinical diagnosis was a structural anomaly. In a subgroup of patients, a complete steroid withdrawal was made at day 7. The CYP3A5 polymorphism (ancestral allele *1; variant allele *3) was determined in the entire cohort, while MRP2 -24G > A, UGT1A9 -275T > A, and UGT1A9 -2152C > T polymorphisms were determined in 53 patients. Genotypes were associated with trough drug concentrations (C0), dose requirements normalized by weight (TAC-D mg/kg) or body surface (MPA-D mg/m2), trough levels normalized by dose requirements (C0/D), and area under the curve in 12 h normalized by dose requirements (AUC0-12h/D). Results: The frequencies of the variant alleles CYP3A5*3, MRP2-24A, UGT1A9-275A, and UGT1A9-2152T were 76.9, 22.1, 6.6, and 2.9%, respectively. AUC0-12h/TAC-D were 1.6-fold higher in CYP3A5*3/*3 patients than in CYP3A5*1 carriers (CYP3A5*1/*3 and CYP3A5*1/*1). When analyzing patients with steroid withdrawal, CYP3A5*3/*3 patients had 1.7-fold higher AUC0-12h/TAC-D than the other genotypes. Patients carrying the CYP3A5*3/*3 genotype had higher TAC-C0, lower TAC-D and higher TAC-C0/D, consistently in a 6-months follow-up. Creatinine clearance was stable during the follow-up, regardless of the genotype. No significant differences between MRP2 and UGT1A9 genotypes were observed in MPA-C0, MPA-D or MPA-C0/D. However, patients carrying the UGT1A9-275A allele had lower AUC0-12h/MPA-D than those carrying the UGT1A9-275T ancestral allele. Conclusions: These results support that CYP3A5 and UGT1A9 genotyping in pediatric recipients might be useful and advisable to guide TAC and MPA dosing and monitoring in children that undergo kidney transplantation.

Effect of CYP3A4, CYP3A5, MDR1 and POR Genetic Polymorphisms in Immunosuppressive Treatment in Chilean Kidney Transplanted Patients.

Cyclosporine (CsA) and tacrolimus (TAC) are immunosuppressant drugs characterized by a narrow therapeutic range and high pharmacokinetic variability. The effect of polymorphisms in genes related to the metabolism and transport of these drugs, namely CYP3A4, CYP3A5, MDR1 and POR genes, has been evaluated in diverse populations. However, the impact of these polymorphisms on drug disposition is not well established in Latin American populations. Using TaqMan® probes, we determined the allelic frequency of seven variants in CYP3A4, CYP3A5, MDR1 and POR in 139 Chilean renal transplant recipients, of which 89 were treated with CsA and 50 with TAC. We tested associations between variants and trough and/or 2-hour concentrations, normalized by dose (C0/D and C2/D) at specific time points post-transplant. We found that CYP3A5*3/*3 carriers required lower doses of TAC. In TAC treated patients, most CYP3A5*3/*3 carriers presented higher C0/D and a high proportion of patients with C0 levels outside the therapeutic range relative to other genotypes. These results reinforce the value of considering CYP3A5 genotypes alongside therapeutic drug monitoring for TAC treated Chilean kidney recipients.

Potent neutralization of clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2 D614 and G614 variants by a monomeric, sub-nanomolar affinity nanobody.

Despite unprecedented global efforts to rapidly develop SARS-CoV-2 treatments, in order to reduce the burden placed on health systems, the situation remains critical. Effective diagnosis, treatment, and prophylactic measures are urgently required to meet global demand: recombinant antibodies fulfill these requirements and have marked clinical potential. Here, we describe the fast-tracked development of an alpaca Nanobody specific for the receptor-binding-domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein with potential therapeutic applicability. We present a rapid method for nanobody isolation that includes an optimized immunization regimen coupled with VHH library E. coli surface display, which allows single-step selection of Nanobodies using a simple density gradient centrifugation of the bacterial library. The selected single and monomeric Nanobody, W25, binds to the SARS-CoV-2 S RBD with sub-nanomolar affinity and efficiently competes with ACE-2 receptor binding. Furthermore, W25 potently neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 wild type and the D614G variant with IC50 values in the nanomolar range, demonstrating its potential as antiviral agent.

Abnormal social behaviors and altered gene expression rates in a mouse model for Potocki-Lupski syndrome.

The Potocki-Lupski syndrome (PTLS) is associated with a microduplication of 17p11.2. Clinical features include multiple congenital and neurobehavioral abnormalities and autistic features. We have generated a PTLS mouse model, Dp(11)17/+, that recapitulates some of the physical and neurobehavioral phenotypes present in patients. Here, we investigated the social behavior and gene expression pattern of this mouse model in a pure C57BL/6-Tyr(c-Brd) genetic background. Dp(11)17/+ male mice displayed normal home-cage behavior but increased anxiety and increased dominant behavior in specific tests. A subtle impairment in the preference for a social target versus an inanimate target and abnormal preference for social novelty (the preference to explore an unfamiliar mouse versus a familiar one) was also observed. Our results indicate that these animals could provide a valuable model to identify the specific gene(s) that confer abnormal social behaviors and that map within this delimited genomic deletion interval. In a first attempt to identify candidate genes and for elucidating the mechanisms of regulation of these important phenotypes, we directly assessed the relative transcription of genes within and around this genomic interval. In this mouse model, we found that candidates genes include not only most of the duplicated genes, but also normal-copy genes that flank the engineered interval; both categories of genes showed altered expression levels in the hippocampus of Dp(11)17/+ mice.

Urinary free cortisol is not a biochemical marker of hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that glucocorticoids might play a role in blood pressure (BP) control. These reports show that cortisol (F) can increase the BP acting on the mineralocorticoid receptor in kidney, brain, heart, and blood vessel. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of F in the renal salt and water reabsorption in essential hypertensive patients (EH). METHODS: We studied 364 EH and 102 normotensive (NT) subjects. We obtained 24-h urine to measure urinary free cortisol (UFF) and creatinine (Cr). The upper limit of the UFF/Cr ratio was calculated from NT subjects. Patients with a high UFF/Cr ratio underwent dexamethasone suppression test (DST). Blood samples were used to determine plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (SA), F, cortisone (E), urinary Na/K ratios, adrenocorticotrophic hormone levels, and also to purify lymphocytes for binding assays and genetic analysis. RESULTS: In EH subjects the UFF/Cr and F/E ratios were higher than in normotensives (48.3 microg/g [33.6 to 57.5 microg/g] v 32.6 microg/g [5.6 to 34.6 microg/g], P < .001 and 3.9 microg/g [3.3 to 4.8 microg/g] v 3.0 microg/g [2.4 to 3.6 microg/g], respectively), whereas the SA and PRA levels were similar. The upper limit value for UFF/Cr was set at 51.6 microg/g. The EH patients with high UFF/Cr (123/364, 34%) had lower PRA (1.5 ng/mL/h [0.9 to 2.5 ng/mL/h] v 2.0 ng/mL/h [1.1 to 3.0 ng/mL/h], P = .012, SA levels (7.1 ng/dL [4.1 to 10.5 ng/dL] v 7.9 ng/dL [5.2 to 11.0 ng/dL], P = .045) and Na/K ratios (3.6 [2.8 to 5.8] v 4.0 [3.1 to 6.6], P < or = .05) than those with normal UFF/Cr ratios. We found a slight negative relationship between UFF/Cr and PRA (r = -0.117, P = .031), SA (r = -0.096, P = .058) and Na/K ratios (r = 0.176, P = .059). We did not find significant differences in serum F/E ratios between EH patients with high or normal UFF/Cr (3.9 [3.3 to 5.1] v 3.8 [3.2 to 4.7], P = not significant [NS]) or a correlation between F/E ratio and UFF excretion (r = 0.032, P = NS). We did not find any association between UFF/Cr with systolic BP (P = .349) or diastolic BP (P = .895). Forty EH with the highest UFF/Cr values underwent the DST, which resulted in suppressed serum F in all of them. Binding assays in 4 of 13 EH with the highest UFF/Cr ratio showed a low affinity to dexamethasone (K(d) 13.7 to 33.0 nmol/L). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the GR gene (ligand-binding domain exons) did not show mutations or gross alterations. CONCLUSIONS: We found an EH subpopulation with abnormally high values of UFF but evidence of only a minor mineralocorticoid action, which was not directly related to the BP elevation, suggesting that another alternative mechanism could be triggering the F-induced hypertension. The origin of hypercortisoluria was not elucidated; however, a subtle glucocorticoid resistance was found in some cases.

A polymorphic GT short tandem repeat affecting beta-ENaC mRNA expression is associated with low renin essential hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is a candidate gene associated with the development of essential hypertension. A potentially polymorphic repetitive region (GT dinucleotide short tandem repeat [STR]) was identified in intron 8 of beta-ENaC gene (SCNN1B). The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and distribution of a polymorphic GT-STR in SCNN1B in Chilean essential hypertensive (EH) patients and to analyze the correlation between the different genotypes with plasma renin activity (PRA) and serum aldosterone (SA), and furthermore, to evaluate the beta-ENaC gene expression in vitro. METHODS: We studied 133 patients with EH and 69 normotensive (NT). In both EH and NT subjects we measured PRA, SA, urine sodium, and genotyped them according to the GT-STR length using sequencing analysis. We detected 11, 13 and 14 GT alleles in EH and NT subjects. Both groups were classified according to genotype: 14/14, 14/13, 13/13, 13/11, and 11/11. Influence of the GT-STR on beta-ENaC minigene expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In EH, PRA decreased with the length of the STR region 11/13, 1.40 +/- 0.69; 13/13, 1.16 +/- 0.61; 13/14, 0.90 +/- 0.56; 14/14, 0.32 +/- 0.09 ng/mL/h; P < .01. Likewise, PRA in patients with EH with 14/14 or 14/13 genotypes were lower than EH with 13/13 or 13/11 genotypes (0.77 +/- 0.5 v 1.24 +/- 0.6 ng/mL/h; P < .01). Real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated an increased beta-ENaC expression in minigenes containing 14 GT-STR. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a polymorphic GT-STR in the beta-ENaC gene, which is present in the EH and NT Chilean population. Biochemical analysis showed a possible linkage between this polymorphic region and low renin hypertension. The in vitro assay suggests that GT-STR could regulate the beta-ENaC expression.

Evolution of gremlin 2 in cetartiodactyl mammals: gene loss coincides with lack of upper jaw incisors in ruminants.

Understanding the processes that give rise to genomic variability in extant species is an active area of research within evolutionary biology. With the availability of whole genome sequences, it is possible to quantify different forms of variability such as variation in gene copy number, which has been described as an important source of genetic variability and in consequence of phenotypic variability. Most of the research on this topic has been focused on understanding the biological significance of gene duplication, and less attention has been given to the evolutionary role of gene loss. Gremlin 2 is a member of the DAN gene family and plays a significant role in tooth development by blocking the ligand-signaling pathway of BMP2 and BMP4. The goal of this study was to investigate the evolutionary history of gremlin 2 in cetartiodactyl mammals, a group that possesses highly divergent teeth morphology. Results from our analyses indicate that gremlin 2 has experienced a mixture of gene loss, gene duplication, and rate acceleration. Although the last common ancestor of cetartiodactyls possessed a single gene copy, pigs and camels are the only cetartiodactyl groups that have retained gremlin 2. According to the phyletic distribution of this gene and synteny analyses, we propose that gremlin 2 was lost in the common ancestor of ruminants and cetaceans between 56.3 and 63.5 million years ago as a product of a chromosomal rearrangement. Our analyses also indicate that the rate of evolution of gremlin 2 has been accelerated in the two groups that have retained this gene. Additionally, the lack of this gene could explain the high diversity of teeth among cetartiodactyl mammals; specifically, the presence of this gene could act as a biological constraint. Thus, our results support the notions that gene loss is a way to increase phenotypic diversity and that gremlin 2 is a dispensable gene, at least in cetartiodactyl mammals.

Characterization of a Trpc6 Transgenic Mouse Associated with Early Onset FSGS.

RATIONALE: Mutations in Transient Receptor Potential Channel 6 (TRPC6) gene are associated with autosomal dominant focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The majority of the identified mutations affect the ion channel function. Since calcium channels are promising candidate drug targets, there is an an urgent need for a mouse model to assess new therapeutic drugs and to help delineate the pathogenic process leading to FSGS. We have previously reported the generation of three independent transgenic mouse lines carrying different Trpc6 mutations that display a glomerular disease comparable to the phenotype presented by individuals with FSGS. However, the utility of these models for drug testing is dampened by the late-onset of the presentation and the mild phenotypic manifestations. METHODOLOGY: In order to obtain a time-effective mouse model for Trpc6-associated FSGS we generated a new transgenic mutant Trpc6 mouse model emulating the amino acid change carried by the first pediatric patient of FSGS associated with a TRPC6 mutation: M132T. RESULTS: Mice carrying the orthologous Trpc6 M131T transgene showed early onset proteinuria and early signs of FSGS. When exploring molecular consequences of the overexpression of this mutated form of Trpc6 in podocytes, differences in expression levels of Axin2 and ß-catenin were found in glomeruli from transgenic Trpc6 M131T mice. These data supports the proposed molecular mechanisms related to the activation of calcineurin-NFAT/Wnt signaling, as outcome of the increased calcium influx caused by the mutated form of Trpc6. CONCLUSION: Given that the Trpc6 M131T mouse develops an early onset of FSGS-like phenotypes it represents a promising model for studying the pathogenesis of FSGS caused by TRpC6, facilitating the assessment of new drugs as treatments and allowing further studies to understand underlying molecular pathways involved in the development of the TRPC6 mediated disease.