Editorial

A Modified Disease Concept of Alport Syndrome (AS) and Related Disorders may soon be Developed– Can a Case Report Contribute toward the Development?

Hiroyuki Morita1*, Junko Takagi1 and Koji Kimata2
1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
2Research Creation Support Center, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Japan

*Corresponding author: Hiroyuki Morita, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan


Published: 16 Feb, 2017
Cite this article as: Morita H, Takagi J, Kimata K. A Modified Disease Concept of Alport Syndrome (AS) and Related Disorders may soon be Developed– Can a Case Report Contribute toward the Development?. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2017; 2: 1273.

Editorial

Major molecular constituents of the Glomerular Basement Membrane (GBM) of the kidney are type IV collagen, laminin, and heparin sulfate proteoglycan (s) [1,2]. Interweaving of type IV collagen to form a basic network is particularly important in that it gives mechanical support to the GBM and probably provides a scaffold for specific interactions with other molecular constituents [3]. Six α-chains of type IV collagens, α1(IV), α2(IV), α3(IV), α4(IV), α5(IV), and α6(IV), are encoded by COL4A1, COL4A2, COL4A3, COL4A4 COL4A5 and COL4A6 genes, respectively, [4]. Type IV collagen exists in the body as a homotrimer or heterotrimer of the α-chain, and the most common combination in the normal adult GBM is [α3, α4, α5] heterotrimer [5,6]. Hemizygous mutations in the COLA5 gene, and homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the COL4A3 or COL4A4 gene lead to X-Linked Alport Syndrome (XLAS), and Autosomal Recessive AS (ARAS), respectively. Heterozygous mutations in the COL4A3 or COL4A4 gene may lead to Autosomal Dominant AS (ADAS), or Thin Basement Membrane Nephropathy (TBMN) [3,5,7].
Three forms of AS and TBMN are conjointly referred to as “collagen IV nephropathy [8]”. AS, in principle, leads to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), but ESRD in TBMN is not necessary common [8,9]. Although it was believed ultra structure of the GBM in AS is different from that in TBMN, this issue might need re-evaluation [7,10,11]. Recent progress in gene sequencing technique, including easier accessibility to next generation sequencing, makes it relatively easy to examine whether there are target gene mutations in a patient with “collagen IV nephropathy”. Phenotype variation, or clinical heterogeneiety, is observed among family members [8,12]. Thus, to identify another gene modulating disease progression is a challenge. The gene has the potential for designing a new drug not only for collagen IV nephropathy but also for other chronic kidney diseases. If we find an interesting patient or family, we can now make approaches to the whole genome sequencing. Correct and detailed descriptions of a patient and/or family are of inestimable value, because it could play a pivotal role in the first step of identifying the gene.
It is far from easy to predict clinic-pathologic features of a patient from a given mutation in the COL43, COL4A4, and COL4A5 genes. To learn it, we must be able to predict how a missense mutation alters 3 dimensional structure of [α3, α4, α5] heterotrimer, intramolecular/intermolecular associations among molecular constituent of the GBM, and ultrastructure of the GBM. We must await another innovation in bioimformatics. What we should do now is to accumulate descriptions of detailed clinical pictures resulting from a given mutation [9]. It is currently believed that XLAS, ARAS, and ADAS comprise about 80-85%, 10-15%, and 1-5% of all AS, respectively [5,8,12], but in theory, mother and sister(s) of a male XLAS patient may have collagen IV nephropathy, and parents of ARAS patients may have ADAS or TBMN. Individuals in these cohorts are not well examined, although there are pioneer reports [13-15]. Again, correct and detailed descriptions of a patient and/or family are of inestimable value.
Furthermore, little is known as to how DNA methylation, translational regulation by microRNA (miRNA) as well as long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and posttranslational modification of histone proteins alter type IV collagen expression in the GBM, although recent reports have indicated these epigenetic factors play an important role in fibrosis [16]. Collagen IV nephropathy is a genetic disorder, but its prognosis may well be improved by steadily controlling body weight and blood pressure, by properly inhibiting renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system [17], and by applying a new therapeutic strategy including collagen receptor blockade and antimiRNA therapy [6].
Pathogenesis of collagen IV nephropathy has been elucidated little by little at the molecular level. Human gene analysis has to be accompanied by accurate and detailed descriptions of clinical pictures, otherwise it could be misleading. In conclusion, we can now find out a number of issues to be discussed and/or settled in collagen IV nephropathy. Medical practitioners would be interested in reading case reports clearly illustrating any one of the issues, which should, in the end, benefit patients.

References

  1. Suh JH, Miner JH. The glomerular basement membrane as a barrier to albumin. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2013; 9: 470-477.
  2. Morita H, Yoshimura A, Kimata K. The role of heparan sulfate in the glomerular basement membrane. Kidney Int. 2008; 73: 247-248.
  3. Hudson BG, Tryggvason K, Sundaramoorthy M, Neilson EG. Alport's syndrome, Goodpasture's syndrome, and type IV collagen. N Engl J Med. 2003; 348: 2543-2556.
  4. Abreu-Velez AM, Howard MS. Collagen IV in Normal Skin and in Pathological Processes. N Am J Med Sci. 2012; 4: 1-8.
  5. Savige J. Alport syndrome: its effects on the glomerular filtration barrier and implications for future treatment. J Physiol. 2014; 592: 4013-4023.
  6. Gross O, Perin L, Deltas C. Alport syndrome from bench to bedside: the potential of current treatment beyond RAAS blockade and the horizon of future therapies. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2014; 29: iv124-130.
  7. Voskarides K, Damianou L, Neocleous V, Zouvani I, Christodoulidou S, Hadjiconstantinou V, et al. COL4A3/COL4A4 mutations producing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and renal failure in thin basement membrane nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007; 18: 3004-3016.
  8. Papazachariou L, Demosthenous P, Pieri M, Papagregoriou G, Savva I, Stavrou C, et al. Frequency of COL4A3/COL4A4 mutations amongst families segregating glomerular microscopic hematuria and evidence for activation of the unfolded protein response. Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis is a frequent development during ageing. PLoS One. 2014; 16; 9 : e115015.
  9. Pierides A, Voskarides K, Athanasiou Y, Ioannou K, Damianou L, Arsali M, et al. Clinico-pathological correlations in 127 patients in 11 large pedigrees, segregating one of three heterozygous mutations in the COL4A3/ COL4A4 genes associated with familial haematuria and significant late progression to proteinuria and chronic kidney disease from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2009; 24: 2721–2729.
  10. Haas M. Alport syndrome and thin glomerular basement membrane nephropathy: a practical approach to diagnosis. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2009; 133: 224-232.
  11. Marcocci E, Uliana V, Bruttini M, Artuso R, Silengo MC, Zerial M, et al. Autosomal dominant Alport syndrome: molecular analysis of the COL4A4 gene and clinical outcome. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2009; 24: 1464-1471.
  12. Deltas C, Pierides A, Voskarides K. The role of molecular genetics in diagnosing familial hematuria(s). Pediatr Nephrol. 2012; 27: 1221-1231.
  13. Jais JP, Knebelmann B, Giatras I, De Marchi M, Rizzoni G, Renieri A, et al. X-linked Alport syndrome: natural history and genotype-phenotype correlations in girls and women belonging to 195 families: a "European Community Alport Syndrome Concerted Action" study. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2003; 14: 2603-2610.
  14. Rheault M. Women and Alport syndrome. Pediatr Nephrol. 2012; 27: 41- 46.
  15. Deltas C, Savva I, Voskarides K, Papazachariou L, Pierides A. Carriers of Autosomal Recessive Alport Syndrome with Thin Basement Membrane Nephropathy Presenting as Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in Later Life. Nephron. 2015; 130: 271-280.
  16. Yao HW, Li J. Epigenetic modifications in fibrotic diseases: implications for pathogenesis and pharmacological targets. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2015; 352: 2-13.
  17. Zhang Y, Wang F, Ding J, Zhang H, Liu X, Wang S, et al. Long-term treatment by ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in children with Alport syndrome. Pediatr Nephrol. 2016; 31: 67-72.