The mechanism that explains the association of APOL1 variants with nondiabetic kidney diseases in African Americans remains unclear. Kidney disease risk is inherited as a recessive trait, and many ...studies investigating the intracellular function of APOL1 have indicated the APOL1 variants G1 and G2 are associated with cytotoxicity. Whether cytotoxicity results from the absence of a protective effect conferred by the G0 allele or is induced by a deleterious effect of variant allele expression has not be conclusively established. A central issue hampering basic biology studies is the lack of model systems that authentically replicate APOL1 expression patterns. APOL1 is present in humans and a few other primates and appears to have important functions in the kidney, as the kidney is the primary target for disease associated with the genetic variance. There have been no studies to date assessing the function of untagged APOL1 protein under native expression in human or primate kidney cells, and no studies have examined the heterozygous state, a disease-free condition in humans. A second major issue is the chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated APOL1 variants are conditional mutations, where the disease-inducing function is only evident under the appropriate environmental stimulus. In addition, it is possible there may be more than one mechanism of pathogenesis that is dependent on the nature of the stressor or other genetic variabilities. Studies addressing the function of APOL1 and how the CKD-associated APOL1 variants cause kidney disease are challenging and remain to be fully investigated under conditions that faithfully model known human genetics and physiology.
In patients of African ancestry, genetic variants in APOL1, which encodes apolipoprotein L1, associate with the nondiabetic kidney diseases, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), HIV-associated ...nephropathy (HIVAN), and hypertensive nephropathy. Understanding the renal localization of APOL1 may provide clues that will ultimately help elucidate the mechanisms by which APOL1 variants promote nephropathy. Here, we used immunohistology to examine APOL1 localization in normal human kidney sections and in biopsies demonstrating either FSGS (n = 8) or HIVAN (n = 2). Within normal glomeruli, APOL1 only localized to podocytes. Compared with normal glomeruli, fewer cells stained for APOL1 in FSGS and HIVAN glomeruli, even when expression of the podocyte markers GLEPP1 and synaptopodin appeared normal. APOL1 localized to proximal tubular epithelia in normal kidneys, FSGS, and HIVAN. We detected APOL1 in the arteriolar endothelium of normal and diseased kidney sections. Unexpectedly, in both FSGS and HIVAN but not normal kidneys, the media of medium artery and arterioles contained a subset of α-smooth muscle actin-positive cells that stained for APOL1. Comparing the renal distribution of APOL1 in nondiabetic kidney disease to normal kidney suggests that a previously unrecognized arteriopathy may contribute to disease pathogenesis in patients of African ancestry.
Nephronophthisis (NPHP), Joubert (JBTS), and Meckel-Gruber (MKS) syndromes are autosomal-recessive ciliopathies presenting with cystic kidneys, retinal degeneration, and cerebellar/neural tube ...malformation. Whether defects in kidney, retinal, or neural disease primarily involve ciliary, Hedgehog, or cell polarity pathways remains unclear. Using high-confidence proteomics, we identified 850 interactors copurifying with nine NPHP/JBTS/MKS proteins and discovered three connected modules: “NPHP1-4-8” functioning at the apical surface, “NPHP5-6” at centrosomes, and “MKS” linked to Hedgehog signaling. Assays for ciliogenesis and epithelial morphogenesis in 3D renal cultures link renal cystic disease to apical organization defects, whereas ciliary and Hedgehog pathway defects lead to retinal or neural deficits. Using 38 interactors as candidates, linkage and sequencing analysis of 250 patients identified
ATXN10 and
TCTN2 as new NPHP-JBTS genes, and our
Tctn2 mouse knockout shows neural tube and Hedgehog signaling defects. Our study further illustrates the power of linking proteomic networks and human genetics to uncover critical disease pathways.
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► High-confidence proteomics identifies an NPHP-JBTS-MKS interaction network ► Three connected modules at apical surface, at centrosomes, or linked to Hh signaling ►
ATXN10 and
TCTN2 are new NPHP-JBTS genes ►
Tctn2 mouse knockout shows neural tube and Hedgehog signaling defects
The mechanism of pathogenesis associated with APOL1 polymorphisms and risk for non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not fully understood. Prior studies have minimized a causal role for the ...circulating APOL1 protein, thus efforts to understand kidney pathogenesis have focused on APOL1 expressed in renal cells. Of the kidney cells reported to express APOL1, the proximal tubule expression patterns are inconsistent in published reports, and whether APOL1 is synthesized by the proximal tubule or possibly APOL1 protein in the blood is filtered and reabsorbed by the proximal tubule remains unclear. Using both protein and mRNA in situ methods, the kidney expression pattern of APOL1 was examined in normal human and APOL1 bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mice with and without proteinuria. APOL1 protein and mRNA was detected in podocytes and endothelial cells, but not in tubular epithelia. In the setting of proteinuria, plasma APOL1 protein did not appear to be filtered or reabsorbed by the proximal tubule. A side-by-side examination of commercial antibodies used in prior studies suggest the original reports of APOL1 in proximal tubules likely reflects antibody non-specificity. As such, APOL1 expression in podocytes and endothelia should remain the focus for mechanistic studies in the APOL1-mediated kidney diseases.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
APOL1 variants have been associated with renal phenotypes in blacks. To refine clinical outcomes and discover mechanisms of APOL1-associated kidney injury, we analyzed clinical and genomic datasets ...derived from 90 black subjects in the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE), stratified by APOL1 risk genotype. Ninety subjects with proteinuria ≥0.5 g/d were enrolled at first biopsy for primary nephrotic syndrome and followed. Clinical outcomes were determined, and renal histomorphometry and sequencing of Mendelian nephrotic syndrome genes were performed. APOL1 variants were genotyped, and glomerular and tubulointerstitial transcriptomes from protocol renal biopsy cores were analyzed for differential and correlative gene expression. Analyses were performed under the recessive model (high-risk genotype defined by two risk alleles). APOL1 high-risk genotype was significantly associated with a 17 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) lower eGFR and a 69% reduction in the probability of complete remission at any time, independent of histologic diagnosis. Neither APOL1 risk group was enriched for Mendelian mutations. On renal biopsy, high-risk genotype was associated with increased fractional interstitial area, interstitial fibrosis, and tubular atrophy. Risk genotype was not associated with intrarenal APOL1 mRNA expression levels. Differential expression analysis demonstrated an increased steady-state level of five genes associated with the high-risk genotype (CXCL9, CXCL11, and UBD in glomerulus; SNOR14B and MUC13 in tubulointerstitium). APOL1 tubulointerstitial coexpression analysis showed coexpression of APOL1 mRNA levels with a group of intrarenal transcripts that together were associated with increased interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. These data indicate the high-risk APOL1 genotype confers renal risk across histopathologic diagnoses.
Wilms' tumor interacting protein (Wtip) has been implicated in cell junction assembly and cell differentiation and interacts with proteins in the podocyte slit diaphragm, where it regulates podocyte ...phenotype. To define Wtip expression and function in the kidney, we created a
-deleted mouse model using β-galactosidase-neomycin (β-geo) gene trap technology.
gene trap mice were embryonic lethal, suggesting additional developmental roles outside kidney function. Using β-geo heterozygous and normal mice, Wtip expression was identified in the developing kidneys, heart, and eyes. In the kidney, expression was restricted to podocytes, which appeared initially at the capillary loop stage coinciding with terminal podocyte differentiation. Heterozygous mice had an expected lifespan and showed no evidence of proteinuria or glomerular pathology. However, heterozygous mice were more susceptible to glomerular injury than wild-type littermates and developed more significant and prolonged proteinuria in response to lipopolysaccharide or adriamycin. In normal human kidneys, WTIP expression patterns were consistent with observations in mice and were lost in glomeruli concurrent with loss of synaptopodin expression in disease. Mechanistically, we identified the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 12 (ARHGEF12) as a binding partner for WTIP. ARHGEF12 was expressed in human podocytes and formed high-affinity interactions through their LIM- and PDZ-binding domains. Our findings suggest that
is essential for early murine embryonic development and maintaining normal glomerular filtration barrier function, potentially regulating slit diaphragm and foot process function through Rho effector proteins.
This study characterized dynamic expression patterns of Wilms' tumor interacting protein (Wtip) and demonstrates the novel role of Wtip in murine development and maintenance of the glomerular filtration barrier.
An important need exists to better understand and stratify kidney disease according to its underlying pathophysiology in order to develop more precise and effective therapeutic agents. National ...collaborative efforts such as the Kidney Precision Medicine Project are working towards this goal through the collection and integration of large, disparate clinical, biological and imaging data from patients with kidney disease. Ontologies are powerful tools that facilitate these efforts by enabling researchers to organize and make sense of different data elements and the relationships between them. Ontologies are critical to support the types of big data analysis necessary for kidney precision medicine, where heterogeneous clinical, imaging and biopsy data from diverse sources must be combined to define a patient's phenotype. The development of two new ontologies - the Kidney Tissue Atlas Ontology and the Ontology of Precision Medicine and Investigation - will support the creation of the Kidney Tissue Atlas, which aims to provide a comprehensive molecular, cellular and anatomical map of the kidney. These ontologies will improve the annotation of kidney-relevant data, and eventually lead to new definitions of kidney disease in support of precision medicine.
Background
Minimal change disease (MCD) is the major cause of childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, which is characterized by massive proteinuria and debilitating edema. Proteinuria in MCD is ...typically rapidly reversible with corticosteroid therapy, but relapses are common, and children often have many adverse events from the repeated courses of immunosuppressive therapy. The pathobiology of MCD remains poorly understood. Prior clinical observations suggest that abnormal T-cell function may play a central role in MCD pathogenesis. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that T-cell responses to specific exposures or antigens lead to a clonal expansion of T-cell subsets, a restriction in the T-cell repertoire, and an elaboration of specific circulating factors that trigger disease onset and relapses.
Methods
To test these hypotheses, we sequenced T-cell receptors in fourteen MCD, four focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and four membranous nephropathy (MN) patients with clinical data and blood samples drawn during active disease and during remission collected by the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE). We calculated several T-cell receptor diversity metrics to assess possible differences between active disease and remission states in paired samples.
Results
Median productive clonality did not differ between MCD active disease (0.0083; range: 0.0042, 0.0397) and remission (0.0088; range: 0.0038, 0.0369). We did not identify dominant clonotypes in MCD active disease, and few clonotypes were shared with FSGS and MN patients.
Conclusions
While these data do not support an obvious role of the adaptive immune system T-cells in MCD pathogenesis, further study is warranted given the limited sample size.
Graphical abstract
A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as
Supplementary information
.
African polymorphisms in the gene for Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) confer a survival advantage against lethal trypanosomiasis but also an increased risk for several chronic kidney diseases (CKD) ...including HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). APOL1 is expressed in renal cells, however, the pathogenic events that lead to renal cell damage and kidney disease are not fully understood. The podocyte function of APOL1-G0 versus APOL1-G2 in the setting of a known disease stressor was assessed using transgenic mouse models. Transgene expression, survival, renal pathology and function, and podocyte density were assessed in an intercross of a mouse model of HIVAN (Tg26) with two mouse models that express either APOL1-G0 or APOL1-G2 in podocytes. Mice that expressed HIV genes developed heavy proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis, and had significant losses in podocyte numbers and reductions in podocyte densities. Mice that co-expressed APOL1-G0 and HIV had preserved podocyte numbers and densities, with fewer morphologic manifestations typical of HIVAN pathology. Podocyte losses and pathology in mice co-expressing APOL1-G2 and HIV were not significantly different from mice expressing only HIV. Podocyte hypertrophy, a known compensatory event to stress, was increased in the mice co-expressing HIV and APOL1-G0, but absent in the mice co-expressing HIV and APOL1-G2. Mortality and renal function tests were not significantly different between groups. APOL1-G0 expressed in podocytes may have a protective function against podocyte loss or injury when exposed to an environmental stressor. This was absent with APOL1-G2 expression, suggesting APOL1-G2 may have lost this protective function.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
There are limited data and no national capture of barriers associated with initiating and completing the donation process for potential living kidney donors (LKDs).
We performed a retrospective ...analysis of 3001 intake forms completed by prospective LKDs from 2016 to 2019 at a single transplant center. We analyzed data from all potential donors who completed the intake until they became ineligible or withdrew or donation was complete. We used univariate and multivariate models to evaluate independent factors associated with donation at various stages in the donation process.
The donation process was deconstructed into 5 steps: intake form, immunologic compatibility testing, clinic evaluation, selection committee review, and donation. The highest percentage of potential donors dropped out after completing the intake form, primarily because of not responding to the follow-up phone call (22.6%). Of 455 potential LKDs that completed immunologic compatibility testing, 36% were ABO or crossmatch incompatible. One-hundred eighty-eight (7.5%) of all LKD applicants reached donation, the majority of whom were White (91.0%) and female (63.8%).
A minority of LKD applicants make it to donation. Our ability to track all potential LKDs from the initial touch point to the transplant center will help us develop interventions to address barriers to a successful donation.
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