Mutations in GREB1L Cause Bilateral Kidney Agenesis in Humans and Mice

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) constitute a major cause of chronic kidney disease in children and 20% of prenatally detected anomalies. CAKUT encompass a spectrum of developmental kidney defects, including renal agenesis, hypoplasia, and cystic and non-cystic dysplasia. More than 50 genes have been reported as mutated in CAKUT-affected case subjects. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to bilateral kidney agenesis (BKA) remain largely elusive. Whole-exome or targeted exome sequencing of 183 unrelated familial and/or severe CAKUT-affected case subjects, including 54 fetuses with BKA, led to the identification of 16 heterozygous variants in GREB1L (growth regulation by estrogen in breast cancer 1-like), a gene reported as a target of retinoic acid signaling.

Source: The American Journal of Human Genetics - November 2, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Lara De Tomasi, Pierre David, Camille Humbert, Flora Silbermann, Christelle Arrondel, Fr édéric Tores, Stéphane Fouquet, Audrey Desgrange, Olivier Niel, Christine Bole-Feysot, Patrick Nitschké, Joëlle Roume, Marie-Pierre Cordier, Christine Pietrement Tags: Report Source Type: research