Abstract. Nephronophthisis (NPH) and medullary cystic kidney
disease(MCKD) constitute a group of renal cystic diseases that sharethe
macroscopic feature of cyst development at the corticomedullaryborder of the
kidneys. The disease variants also have in commona characteristic renal
histologic triad of tubular basementmembrane disintegration, tubular atrophy
with cyst development,and interstitial cell infiltration with fibrosis. NPH
and, inmost instances, MCKD lead to chronic renal failure with an onsetin
the first two decades of life for recessive NPH and onsetin adult life for
autosomal dominant MCKD. There is extensivegenetic heterogeneity with at
least three different loci forNPH (NPHP1, NPHP2, and NPHP3)
and two different loci for MCKD(MCKD1 and MCKD2). Juvenile
nephronophthisis, in addition, canbe associated with extrarenal organ
involvement. As a firststep toward understanding the pathogenesis of this
disease group,the gene (NPH1) for juvenile nephronophthisis (NPH1)
has beenidentified by positional cloning. Its gene product, nephrocystin,is
a novel protein of unknown function that contains a src-homology3
domain. It is hypothesized that the pathogenesis of NPH mightbe related to
signaling processes at focal adhesions (the contactpoints between cells and
extracellular matrix) and/or adherensjunctions (the contact points between
cells). This hypothesisis based on the fact that most src-homology
3-containing proteinsare part of focal adhesion signaling complexes, on
animal modelsthat exhibit an NPH-like phenotype, and on the recent finding
thatnephrocystin binds to the protein p130cas, a major mediatorof
focal adhesion signaling.
Juvenile nephronophthisis (NPH), also termed nephronophthisistype 1
(NPH1), is an autosomal recessive cystic kidney diseasethat constitutes the
most frequent genetic cause of end-stagerenal disease (ESRD) in children and
young adults (1). NPH1,
togetherwith medullary cystic kidney disease (MCKD), belongs to a groupof
diseases (NPH-MCKD) (2) that
share common features regardingthe following three criteria: (1)
clinical symptoms, (2) macroscopicpathology, and (3) renal
histology (3)
(Table 1).
Table 1. Shared and distinguishing features among diseases of the NPH-MCKD group
of diseasesa
Initial symptoms are relatively mild and consist of polyuriaand
polydipsia; in children, anemia and growth retardation alsoare seen. In NPH1,
children usually start to drink regularlyduring the night around age 6 yr. In
all variants of NPH, ESRDinescapably ensues at characteristic age ranges. In
most instances,MCKD also leads to ESRD but at a much later age. As far as
macroscopicpathology is concerned, cysts occur primarily at the
corticomedullaryborder of the kidneys. This location of cyst development is
distinctfrom autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD1 andADPKD2)
and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD),in which cysts are
distributed uniformly over the entire organ.Another distinction from PKD is
that in NPH-MCKD, kidneys asa rule maintain normal size, whereas there is
significant renalenlargement in PKD. On renal ultrasonography, kidneys
exhibitincreased echogenicity and diminished corticomedullary
differentiation.Later in the course of the disease, cysts can be detected at
thecorticomedullary junction
(4). The third shared feature
of NPH-MCKDconcerns renal histology. Alterations are restricted mainlyto the
tubules and the interstitium and show a characteristictriad of tubular
basement membrane disintegration, tubular atrophywith cyst development, and
interstitial cell infiltration withfibrosis. The only significant glomerular
change in early stagesis periglomerular fibrosis.
Among the different variants of NPH-MCKD are also three maindistinguishing
features: (1) the mode of inheritance, (2) theage of onset
for ESRD, and (3) the form of extrarenal organinvolvement
(Table 1). With regard to the
mode of inheritance,transmission can be either autosomal recessive or
autosomaldominant. For the recessive forms of the disease group, theterm
nephronophthisis (NPH) is used. Three different forms havebeen
distinguished: NPH1, NPH2, and NPH3. The respective geneloci are NPHP1,
NPHP2, and NPHP3. The designation MCKD denotesthe dominant
variants of NPH-MCKD
(5,6,7).
The related lociare MCKD1 and MCKD2
(7a,7b,7c).
The second distinction pertainsto the age of onset for ESRD. In NPH, chronic
renal failuredevelops within the first two decades of life. There is a
juvenile
(1,8,9),
aninfantile
(10,11),
and an adolescent (12) form of
NPH, whichare referred to as NPH1, NPH2, and NPH3, respectively. Medianages
for onset of ESRD have been determined to be 13 yr
(13),1 to 3 yr
(11), and 19 yr
(12), respectively
(Table 1). WhetherNPH2 should
be classified within the NPH-MCKD disease groupis questionable, because
histology is distinct from all othervariants of the NPH-MCKD group of
diseases (10). In MCKD,
terminalrenal failure occurs only in adulthood. Two different variantsare
known, MCKD1 and MCKD2, with a median onset of ESRD at 62yr and 32 yr,
respectively (Table 1).
With regard to the third distinguishing feature among variantsof NPH-MCKD,
extrarenal associations of recessive forms havebeen described only in NPH1.
NPH1 can occur in combination withocular motor apraxia type Cogan
(14), with retinitis
pigmentosain the Senior-Loken syndrome (SLS)
(15,16),
with coloboma ofthe optic nerve and cerebellar vermis aplasia in Joubert
syndrometype B (17), with
liver fibrosis (18), and with
cone-shapedepiphyses (19)
(Tables 1 and
2). It is interesting that
patientswith the association of NPH1 with ocular motor apraxia typeCogan
seem to carry the same genetic defects as children withisolated involvement
of the kidney by NPH1
(14,20,21).
Thisfinding is not yet understood on a molecular basis. In bothMCKD1
(22) and MCKD2
(23), there is an association
with hyperuricemiaand gout (Table
1). It has been proposed that MCKD2 might beallelic with familial
hyperurecemic nephropathy
(23a).
All variants of the NPH-MCKD group of diseases are caused bydefects in
different genes at distinct chromosomal loci. Aspectsof disease nomenclature,
gene loci, and extrarenal involvementare summarized in
Table 2. Since the first
descriptions of NPH1in 1945
(8) and 1951
(9), no specific protein
defect has beenrecognized as being responsible for the characteristic
histologicchanges of NPH-MCKD. We and others have therefore tried to identify
thegene that is responsible for the most well known variant ofthe NPH-MCKD
group of diseases, NPH1. Through linkage analysisby total genome search,
Antignac et al. (24)
and Hildebrandtet al. (25)
identified a gene locus for NPH1 to human chromosome2q12-q13. We have
subsequently cloned the critical genetic regionin YAC and PAC contigs
(26,27,28,29).
Within this region, thepresence of large (250 kb) homozygous deletions was
demonstratedin approximately 80% of children with NPH1
(30).
Recently, we identified the gene (NPHP1) responsible for NPH1
throughthe detection of putative loss-of-function point mutations inaffected
children (31). The
NPHP1 gene spans 83 kb, consistsof 20 exons, and encodes a mRNA of
4.5 kb. The identity of thisgene as mutated in NPH1 has since been confirmed
(32). Morethan 80% of
children with NPH1 harbor homozygous deletions ofthe gene, whereas some carry
point mutations in combinationwith heterozygous deletions. As a consequence
of the identificationof NPHP1 as the gene responsible for NPH1,
molecular geneticdiagnosis in NPH1 has become possible. Confirmation of the
presenceof a homozygous deletion of NPHP1
(13) can be taken as proofof
the diagnosis of NPH1 and renal biopsy can be avoided. Ifa homozygous
deletion is not found, then a heterozygous deletioncan be detected by
fluorescence in situ hybridization
(14) anda corresponding
heterozygous point mutation can be sought bydirect sequencing of all 20
NPHP1 exons (31). If
all of thesestudies are negative but history and renal ultrasound strongly
suggestNPH, then renal biopsy is warranted. If histology is consistentwith
NPH in the absence of molecular defects in NPHP1, thenadolescent
nephronophthisis (NPH3) should be considered
(12),for which there is no
molecular genetic diagnostic test available.
The NPHP1 gene is flanked by two large (330 kb) inverted
duplications.In addition, a second sequence of 45 kb, which is located
betweenthe centromeric inverted duplication and the NPHP1 gene, is
repeateddirectly within the telomeric inverted duplication. In several
NPHP1families, the deletion breakpoints have been localized to the
45kb direct repeats using pulsed field gel electrophoresis
(21).Chromosomal misalignment
followed by unequal cross-over or theformation of a loop structure on a
single chromosome has beensuggested as a potential cause for these deletions.
In addition,a high degree of further rearrangements are known to occur in
thisregion of chromosome 2
(21). We have recently
molecularly characterizedan unusual maternal deletion in a child with NPH1.
By directsequencing, we showed that the centromeric breakpoint was localized
withina long interspersed nuclear element-1, which belongs to an abundant
groupof transposable elements within the human genome
(33). Whetherthe long
interspersed nuclear element-1 sequence is causallyrelated to the deletion
event in this case cannot be answered.
To gain some insight into NPHP1 gene function, expression studies
wereperformed in human and mouse, after cloning of the full-lengthmurine
Nphp1 cDNA. Northern dot blot analysis revealed a broadtissue
expression pattern primarily in pituitary gland, spinalcord, thyroid, testis,
skeletal muscle, trachea, and kidney(in decreasing order of strength). In
addition, in situ hybridizationstudies of whole mount mouse embryos
showed ubiquitous but weakNphp1 expression at all embryonic stages
between days 7.5 and11.5 p.c.
(34). In the adult mouse,
there was also strong expressionin testis. This expression occurred
specifically in cell stagesof the first meiotic division and thereafter. The
broad tissueexpression pattern is hard to reconcile with the fact that in
NPH1,symptoms are known to occur only in the kidney. However, several
examplesfor a lack of correlation between the tissue expression patternof a
disease gene and the target organs involved are known
(35,36,37).
Toresolve this issue, a mouse model of targeted gene disruptionof the
Nphp1 gene will have to be generated. This would permitextensive
studies into differential tissue expression of NPHP1and
nephrocystin.
Nephrocystin Contains Multiple Domains of Protein-Protein
Interaction
The product of the NPHP1 gene is nephrocystin. We performed
sequencecomparisons using the program BLAST
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/)with electronic databases that contain
all known nucleotidesequences studied from many organisms ("nr,"
"dbest," "HTGS")and searching the protein database
"swissprot." This analysisrevealed that in NPHP1, we had
identified a novel gene thatwas not related to any of the known gene
families. To generatea hypothesis on putative nephrocystin function, we used
thededuced amino acid sequence of nephrocystin to perform computer-aided
theoreticalmodeling of nephrocystin secondary structure. Although the
sequenceof nephrocystin was found to be novel, it contained a hitherto
unknownassociation of domains of protein-protein interaction, whichwas
conserved in evolution (Figure
1). Specifically, there werethree putative coiled-coil domains,
an Src-homology 3 (SH3)domain, which was highly similar in sequence
to the human proto-oncogeneproduct Crk. The SH3 domain is flanked by two
glutamic acid-richdomains (Figure
1) (34). The model
of nephrocystin secondarystructure was well conserved in mouse and even in a
homologoussequence of Caenorhabditis elegans, which was identified
fromthe sequencing project of the nematode. Amino acid sequencesimilarity
was 42% (23% identity), indicating high sequenceconservation of this domain
structure throughout evolution.
Figure 1. Graphical representation of putative nephrocystin domain structure.
Multiple domains of protein-protein interaction are shown: Three putative
coiled-coil domains are represented as cylinders. Two highly acidic,
negatively charged glutamic acid ("E")-rich domains are
represented as circles. The Src-homology 3 (SH3) domain is shown as
an oval. SH3 domains bind to other proteins, which carry the minimal
SH3-binding consensus sequence PxxP (modified from reference
(34).
Figure 1 shows a model of
deduced nephrocystin secondary structure.At the N-terminus, the program COILS
modeled three putativeamphipathic helices, which are known to engage in
protein-proteininteraction by formation of a "coiled-coil"
structure. Thisstructure resembles a cylinder, which exposes on one side
hydrophobicamino acid residues in a row slightly oblique to its longitudinal
axis.Two such coiled-coil cylinders may bind to each other throughthe
summation of hydrophobic interaction between these residues.The structure
resembles two aligned rods that are slightly intertwined
(38).It is interesting that
the gene products polycystin 1 and 2of the genes for ADPKD1 and ADPKD2
interact through a coiled-coildomain on polycystin 2
(39,40).
In addition, there were two highly negatively charged domainsthat
contained two thirds glutamic acid residues (E-rich domains)
(Figure 1).Similar domains are
found in proteins such as the Ran GTPaseactivating protein. The E-rich
domains flank an SH3 domain.SH3 domains are modular protein-binding domains
that are knownto bind specifically to proline-rich consensus sequences on
otherproteins (41). The
minimal SH3 recognition consensus is PxxP(where P is proline and x any amino
acid). More than 300 SH3domains are expected to be encoded by genes in the
human genome(42).
A Functional Hypothesis for the NPHP1 Gene Product
Nephrocystin
On the basis that nephrocystin contained an SH3 domain, we formulateda
testable hypothesis on putative nephrocystin function
(43).Because most SH3 domains
are found in adapter proteins suchas Crk, which have a function in focal
adhesion signaling complexesof cell-matrix contacts
(38,44),
the hypothesis assumed thatnephrocystin, by virtue of its SH3 domain, might
be part offocal adhesion signaling complexes
(44,45,46,47).
To test thishypothesis, we sought to identify protein-binding partners ofthe
nephrocystin SH3 domain. We also reasoned that such proteins,through their
interaction with nephrocystin, might representcandidate gene products for any
of the other disease genes ofthe NPH-MCKD group of diseases. The nephrocystin
SH3 domainsequence was subcloned into pGPT9 (Clontech, La Jolla, CA)
tobe used as a bait in a yeast-2-hybrid screen for protein-protein
interactionof a human fetal kidney cDNA library
(48). From this yeast-2-hybrid
screen,the protein p130cas ("crk-associated
substrate") was identifiedas a binding partner for the nephrocystin SH3
domain (GenBankaccession no. AF218451; E. Otto et al., unpublished
observations).
As an alternative technique, the nephrocystin SH3 domain wasused to
isolate proline-rich binding peptides using a phagedisplay procedure
(49); N. Horn et al.,
unpublished observations).The resulting peptide consensus sequence RPLPPxP
contained thebona fide SH3 binding consensus PxxP and was highly
similarin sequence to the known SH3 binding consensus on the protein
p130casRPLPSPP, to which the protooncogene products SRC and FYN
areknown to bind (45).
p130cas, which is a major mediator of focaladhesion assembly,
binds to focal adhesion kinase (FAK), therebyconnecting integrin-mediated
signaling from the extracellularmatrix to the Rho and Rac MAP kinase
signaling pathways (45).It
also mediates stress fiber formation.
It has recently been shown by yeast-2-hybrid screening usingthe C-terminal
half of murine p130cas that p130cas binds to
nephrocystin,which competes at the recognition sequence RPLPSPP for binding
tothe SH3 domains of Src and Fyn
(50). Those authors were also
ableto show that nephrocystin colocalizes with p130cas and
E-cadherinat adherens junctions of cell-cell contacts in MDCK cells.
Figure 2summarizes a revised
hypothesis stating that nephrocystinmight be involved in focal adhesion
and/or adherens junctionsignaling. Recently, a pathogenetic hypothesis
related to focaladhesion and/or adherens junction signaling has also been
proposedfor ADPKD
(51,52).
Figure 2. Hypothesis of putative nephrocystin function, stating that nephrocystin
might be involved in focal adhesion and/or adherens junction signaling. An
illustration of a renal epithelial cell is shown on the left (modified from
reference (38); components of
adherens junctions and focal adhesions are shown on the right. Adherens
junctions of epithelial cells represent E-cadherin-containing cell-cell
contacts; focal adhesions represent integrin-containing cell-matrix contacts.
Focal adhesions mediate signal transduction from the extracellular matrix to
the nucleus. One of the routes is relayed over integrin molecules, focal
adhesion kinase (FAK), proteins such as p130cas (cas), adapter
proteins such as Crk (containing SH2 and SH3 domains), guanine nucleotide
exchange factors (GEF), and small GTPases such as Rho, Rac, or Ras to the
nucleus (arrow). Major molecular components of focal adhesion complexes are
shaded gray (44); components
with proposed involvement in NPH are shown in color. Nephrocystin might be a
component of focal adhesion signaling complexes, because it is a binding
partner to and co-localizes with p130cas. It might also be an
adherens junction component, because it co-localizes with E-cadherin. The
hypothesis, that nephrocystin might play a role in focal adhesions, is
emphasized by the fact that the tensin knockout mouse (symbolized by red cross
bars over "tensin") exhibits a phenotype very similar to human
nephronophthisis, where tensin is an important constituent of focal adhesion
signaling complexes (36). The
Rho GDI-deficient mouse exhibits an NPH-like phenotype. In children
with NPH, strong 5ß1 integrin expression in proximal tubules, from
which 5 integrin is normally absent, was described, which is most
likely a result from defective 6 integrin expression
(66). Together, these findings
may point to a pathogenesis of NPH, which involves focal adhesion or adherens
junction signaling processes. Additional binding partners of nephrocystin (?
bp) might represent candidate gene products for any of the other disease genes
of the NPH-MCKD group of diseases.
The finding that several domains of protein-protein interaction(SH3 and
coiled-coil) are encoded by NPHP1 suggests that theremight be
additional binding partners of nephrocystin. Defectsin such proteins may
cause a phenotype similar to NPH1. Therefore,isolation of such binding
partners might lead to the identificationof proteins that represent gene
products of other disease genesfrom the NPH-MCKD group of diseases. This
approach as well asidentification of further disease genes by positional
cloningmight help to shed some light on the pathogenesis of NPH-MCKD.It
might also elucidate some general mechanisms of renal fibrosisand cyst
development.
Several animal models that have been shown to share characteristicclinical
and histologic features with human nephronophthisisare summarized in
Table 3. They can be
distinguished from animalmodels for PKD on the basis of the presence of the
histologictriad typical for NPH-MCKD, namely tubular basement membrane
disruption,tubular atrophy, and cyst development and tubulointerstitial
infiltrationwith fibrosis. None of the respective gene loci, however, are
syntenicwith any form of human NPH-MCKD, with the exception of the pcymouse,
which shows synteny with the NPHP3 locus, as has beennoted by H.
Omran et al. (unpublished observations). There arethree mouse models
of targeted gene disruption ("knockout mouse")that concern genes
involved in focal adhesion signaling:
Table 3. Mouse models exhibiting similarities to human nephronophthisis
(NPH)
In the tensin knockout mouse model, the only organ that showsalterations
is the kidney with a histologic picture highly reminiscentof human NPH
(36). There is marked tubular
basement membranedisruption, ectasia and cyst development, and interstitial
inflammatoryinfiltration. Electron microscopy demonstrated lack of focal
adhesionsin cystic tubules. Tensin is an F-actin-binding component offocal
adhesions, contains a src-homology-(SH2) domain, associateswith
p130cas, and plays a central role in focal adhesion signaling.In
distinction to human NPH, cysts of tensin-deficient micewere primarily
localized in proximal rather than distal tubularsegments. There was also the
finding of an empty renal pelvis.Because there was no evidence of urinary
outflow obstruction,we interpret these findings as most likely not
representingtrue "hydronephrosis" (i.e.
pressure-dependent distension ofthe renal pelvis) but rather may be the
result of tissue destructionon the basis of large intrapyramidal cysts, as
are seen in thepcy mouse model
(53). Because of the overall
striking similarityto human NPH, the tensin knockout mouse model supports the
focaladhesion hypothesis for nephrocystin function.
In the humankidney, tubular epithelial cells express mostly
2ß1integrins,6ß1 integrins, and in the distal tubule
6ß4integrins,whereas 3ß1 integrins are expressed in
podocytesof theglomerulus. 3ß1-deficient mice died in the
neonatalperiodwith severe glomerular defects based on disorganizedpodocyte
tobasement membrane contacts. However, there werealso cysticalterations of
proximal tubules (54).
The small GTPase Rho(an equivalent to Ras) is known to regulatevarious
actin cytoskeleton-dependentcell functions. To assessthe function of its GDP
dissociationinhibitor Rho GDI, a knockoutmouse model had been
generated(55). These mice
postnatallydeveloped massive proteinuria mimickingnephrotic syndrome.
However,there was also marked degenerationof tubular epithelial cells,
dilationof distal and collectingtubular cells, and interstitial cell
infiltration,as is seenin NPH-MCKD. These changes underwent age-dependent
progression.In addition, mice were infertile with impaired spermatogenesis.
Onthe basis of the focal adhesion hypothesis, one would expect
p130Cas-deficientmice to show an NPH-MCKD-like phenotype. However,
p130Cas knockoutmice died in utero because of poor
development of the heartand blood vessels on the basis of disorganized
myofibrils andZ-disks (56).
Because of early lethality, whether a renal phenotypemight have ensued cannot
be determined. Heterozygous mice showedno apparent phenotype, although it is
unclear whether a late-onsetrenal phenotype was excluded. Also, in vinculin
knockout mice,kidney involvement could not be assessed because there was
earlyembryonic death at day E10. No phenotypic abnormalities werenoted in
Vcl (±) heterozygotes
(57).
A small number of mouse models of targeted gene disruption havebeen
described and are even more distantly reminiscent of NPH-MCKD.These animal
models implicate mechanisms of apoptotic cell deathin the respective disease
process. The knockout mouse modelfor the Bcl-2 gene exhibits a renal
phenotype similar to NPH,although fulminant apoptosis is present and typical
basementmembrane changes of NPH are lacking. Because Bcl-2 is an
inhibitorof apoptosis, there might be a link of nephrocystin functionto
processes of apoptosis in renal tubular cells
(47,58).
Inthis light, it seems interesting that Lin et al.
(59) were ableto show in
Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, which regularlydevelop into simple
epithelial cell cysts when cultured in typeI collagen gel, that
Bcl-2 overexpression averts cyst cavitation.Their data indicate that
apoptosis may be an essential initialevent for renal cyst formation, as has
also been shown by Woo
(60).
Another animal model with a phenotype distantly related to NPHis the
knockout mouse for the angiotensin converting enzyme(Ace) gene.
Ace knockout mice show reduced fertility in themale and are
phenotypically affected by a nephronophthisis-likedisease, with renal
medullary cysts, corticotubular atrophy,interstitial inflammation, water
wasting, and uremia (61).
AP2ß-deficientmice die postnatally because of PKD. At the end of
embryonicdevelopment, expression of bcl-X(L), bcl-w, and
bcl-2 was foundto be downregulated in parallel to massive apoptotic
death ofcollecting duct and distal tubular epithelia. It was shown that
transfectionof AP2 into cell lines in vitro strongly suppresses
c-myc-inducedapoptosis, pointing to a function of AP2 in programming cell
survivalduring embryogenesis. Although the AP2ß gene locus
mappedwithin the critical region of the locus for ARPKD, the genewas
excluded as causal (62).
Two genetic defects that have arisen spontaneously have beendescribed as
reminiscent of NPH-MCKD. The kd/kd mouse modelshows histologic features that
closely resemble NPH (63). In
thismodel, Sibalic et al.
(64) demonstrated that those
proximaltubular cells, which were affected by typical lesions, showedno
expression of fibronectin receptors 4ß1 integrin and
5ß1integrin, whereas 6ß1 integrin expression was
increased.Thus, tubular expression of integrins as major components offocal
adhesion signaling was altered.
In pcy mice, renal cysts were identified in all segments ofthe
nephron and collecting duct and progressively enlarged withage
(53). Like in NPH, individual
cysts were found to be linedby a single layer of epithelial cells in most
areas, with focalpolyps and mounds of cells principally in collecting duct
cysts.Late stages of the disease were characterized by azotemia andchronic
renal interstitial inflammatory infiltrates in all affectedanimals and
cerebral vascular aneurysms in a few. Therefore,the pcy mouse may
represent another model of NPH-MCKD. Finally,a phenotype highly reminiscent
of NPH-MCKD has been describedin the Norwegian elkhound dog
(65).
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Received for publication February 17, 2000.
Accepted for publication April 18, 2000.
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