INTRODUCTION: Although 10% of adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a monogenic cause, the characteristics of monogenic CKD in older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) are less characterized. We aimed to assess the clinical and genetic spectrum of older adults with CKD and the clinical utility of genetic findings. METHODS: The diagnostic yield of clinically validated disease-causing variants and their type ("typical" vs. "later-onset" phenotypes) were analyzed in older patients with suspected monogenic CKD who were referred to an Irish registry according to predetermined criteria. Independent genetic diagnosis and kidney survival time predictors were analyzed using marginal logistic and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-five adults (from 202 families) were aged ≥ 60 years at the time of genetic testing, of which 74.3% (197/265) progressed to kidney failure. Diagnostic variants were found in 60.4% (122/202) families, including 39% of noncystic kidney disease families. Variants causing "later-onset" phenotypes were more prevalent in patients with disease-onset ≥ 60 years (56% vs. 8.3%; P ≤ 0.001), which include genetic variants in: IFT140, ALG5, ALG9, DNAJB11, COL4A5 in females, monoallelic COL4A3, and the UMOD p.Thr62Pro variant, associated with delayed onset of kidney failure compared with "typical" variants (hazard ratio: 0.52; 95% confidence interval: 0.27-0.98; P = 0.043). A family history of CKD and a priori cystic kidney disease diagnosis independently predicted genetic diagnosis (P ≤ 0.05). In 24% of older adults with positive results, the treatment plan was modified. CONCLUSION: In older patients with CKD, genetic testing revealed enriched variants associated with less-penetrant phenotypes, often with a family history of CKD, which affects clinical management.

• Keywords
• CKD, MPS, monogenic, older, polycystic kidney disease,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The trafficking dynamics of uromodulin (UMOD), the most abundant protein in human urine, play a critical role in the pathogenesis of kidney disease. Monoallelic mutations in the UMOD gene cause autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease (ADTKD-UMOD), an incurable genetic disorder that leads to kidney failure. The disease is caused by the intracellular entrapment of mutant UMOD in kidney epithelial cells, but the precise mechanisms mediating disrupted UMOD trafficking remain elusive. Here, we report that transmembrane Emp24 protein transport domain-containing (TMED) cargo receptors TMED2, TMED9, and TMED10 bind UMOD and regulate its trafficking along the secretory pathway. Pharmacological targeting of TMEDs in cells, in human kidney organoids derived from patients with ADTKD-UMOD, and in mutant-UMOD-knockin mice reduced intracellular accumulation of mutant UMOD and restored trafficking and localization of UMOD to the apical plasma membrane. In vivo, the TMED-targeted small molecule also mitigated ER stress and markers of kidney damage and fibrosis. Our work reveals TMED-targeting small molecules as a promising therapeutic strategy for kidney proteinopathies.

• Keywords
• Genetic diseases, Nephrology, Protein misfolding, Protein traffic,
• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Membrane Glycoproteins metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Mutation MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Protein Transport * MeSH
• Uromodulin * metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Membrane Glycoproteins MeSH
• UMOD protein, human MeSH Browser
• Umod protein, mouse MeSH Browser
• Uromodulin * MeSH

The clinical characteristics of autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease (ADTKD) include bland urinary sediment, slowly progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) with many patients reaching end stage renal disease (ESRD) between age 20 and 70 years, and autosomal dominant inheritance. Due to advances in genetic diagnosis, ADTKD is becoming increasingly recognized as a cause of CKD. Pathogenic variants in UMOD, MUC1, and REN are the most common causes of ADTKD. ADTKD-UMOD is also associated with hyperuricemia and gout. ADTKD-REN often presents in childhood with mild hypotension, CKD, hyperkalemia, acidosis, and anemia. ADTKD-MUC1 patients present only with CKD. This review describes the pathophysiology, genetics, clinical manifestation, and diagnosis for ADTKD, with an emphasis on genetic testing and genetic counseling suggestions for patients.

• Keywords
• Autosomal Dominant Tubulointerstitial Kidney Disease, MUC1, REN, UMOD,
• MeSH
• Renal Insufficiency, Chronic * MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Genetic Testing * MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Mutation MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Uromodulin genetics   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Uromodulin MeSH