Proximal renal tubular acidosis with and without Fanconi syndrome

Proximal renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is caused by a defect in bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) reabsorption in the kidney proximal convoluted tubule. It usually manifests as normal anion-gap metabolic acidosis due to HCO₃⁻ wastage. In a normal kidney, the thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop and more distal nephron segments reclaim all of the HCO₃⁻ not absorbed by the proximal tubule. Bicarbonate wastage seen in type II RTA indicates that the proximal tubular defect is severe enough to overwhelm the capacity for HCO₃⁻ reabsorption beyond the proximal tubule. Proximal RTA can occur as an isolated syndrome or with other impairments in proximal tubular functions under the spectrum of Fanconi syndrome. Fanconi syndrome, which is characterized by a defect in proximal tubular reabsorption of glucose, amino acids, uric acid, phosphate, and HCO₃⁻, can occur due to inherited or acquired causes. Primary inherited Fanconi syndrome is caused by a mutation in the sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPₐ-II) in the proximal tubule. Recent studies have identified new causes of Fanconi syndrome due to mutations in the EHHADH and the HNF4A genes. Fanconi syndrome can also be one of many manifestations of various inherited systemic diseases, such as cystinosis. Many of the acquired causes of Fanconi syndrome with or without proximal RTA are drug-induced, with the list of causative agents increasing as newer drugs are introduced for clinical use, mainly in the oncology field.

Infantile hypercalcemia with novel compound heterozygous mutation in SLC34A1 encoding renal sodium-phosphate cotransporter 2a: a case report

Idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia is characterized by hypercalcemia, dehydration, vomiting, and failure to thrive, and it is due to mutations in 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1). Recently, mutations in sodium-phosphate cotransporter (SLC34A1) expressed in the kidney were discovered as an additional cause of idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia. This report describes a female infant admitted for evaluation of nephrocalcinosis. She presented with hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, low intact parathyroid hormone level, and high 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 level. Exome sequencing identified novel compound heterozygous mutations in SLC34A1 (c.1337G>A, c.1483C>T). The patient was treated with fluids for hydration, furosemide, a corticosteroid, and restriction of calcium/vitamin D intake. At the age of 7 months, the patient's calcium level was within the normal range, and hypercalciuria waxed and waned. Renal echogenicity improved on the follow-up ultrasonogram, and developmental delay was not noted. In cases of hypercalcemia with subsequent hypercalciuria, DNA analysis for SLC34A1 gene mutations and CYP24A1 gene mutations should be performed. Further studies are required to obtain long-term data on hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis.

The Cotransporter NaPi-IIb: characteristics, regulation and its role in carcinogenesis

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) presents a crucial role in cellular metabolism, with the kidney and intestine as the principal regulating organs of the homeostasis of this nutrient. Maintaining phosphate balance results from the activity of different subtype of transporters of sodium-dependent phosphate that use the electrochemical gradient of sodium ions to carry out cotransport. Several diseases have been related to dysfunctions of phosphate cotransporters, including in the area of oncology. A study using the SAGE technique pointed to a possible role of the type IIb sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-IIb), encoded by the SLC34A2 gene, in ovarian carcinogenesis. More recently, such protein was associated with the development of other carcinomas and some of the components that regulate its function were determined. It is believed that in the future, the analysis of SLC34A2 expression in tumor samples will help in the choice of treatment, evaluation of prognosis and be a possible target for new therapeutic strategies.

New concepts in pathogenesis of renal hypophosphatemic syndromes

During the past decades, our knowledge of renal phosphate handling has advanced dramatically. This advance is primarily due to the discovery of sodium-phosphate transport channels and their regulation in health and disease. The discovery of phosphatonins, initially in patients with tumor-induced osteomalacia, has not only allowed us to develop a better understanding of several rare diseases including vitamin D-resistant rickets, but also it has expanded our knowledge of the dynamic interaction between the bone and the kidney critical to bone mineralization. In this review, the author focuses on these new developments and their importance to our understanding of phosphate homeostasis in health and disease

Kidney and Phosphate Metabolism

The serum phosphorus level is maintained through a complex interplay between intestinal absorption, exchange intracellular and bone storage pools, and renal tubular reabsorption. The kidney plays a major role in regulation of phosphorus homeostasis by renal tubular reabsorption. Type IIa and type IIc Na+/Pi transporters are important renal Na+-dependent inorganic phosphate (Pi) transporters, which are expressed in the brush border membrane of proximal tubular cells. Both are regulated by dietary Pi intake, vitamin D, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and parathyroid hormone. The expression of type IIa Na+/Pi transporter result from hypophosphatemia quickly. However, type IIc appears to act more slowly. Physiological and pathophysiological alteration in renal Pi reabsorption are related to altered brush-border membrane expression/content of the type II Na+/Pi cotransporter. Many studies of genetic and acquired renal phosphate wasting disorders have led to the identification of novel genes. Two novel Pi regulating genes, PHEX and FGF23, play a role in the pathophysiology of genetic and acquired renal phosphate wasting disorders and studies are underway to define their mechanism on renal Pi regulation. In recent studies, sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor 1 (NHERF1) is reported as another new regulator for Pi reabsorption mechanism.

El eje hueso-riñón en el control del fósforo sérico y la mineralización ósea / Bone-Kidney axis in the control of serum phosphorus and bone mineralization

El eje hueso-riñón ha sido pensado como un mecanismo por el cual el esqueleto se comunica con el riñón para coordinar la mineralización de la matriz extracelular ósea con el manejo renal del fosfato. Osteoblastos /osteocitos están bien preparados para coordinar las homeostasis sistémica de fósforo y la mineralización ósea, ya que ellos expresan todos los componentes implicados en un posible eje hueso-riñón, incluyendo al PHEX, FGF-23, MEPE, y DMP1. Los efectos autocrinos de proteínas de la familia SIBLING como MEPE y DMP1 sobre los osteoblastos podrían regular la producción de proteínas de matriz extracelular que intervienen en la mineralización. El riñón provee uno de los efectores de este eje que regula el balance de fosfato a través de la expresión apical de los cotransportadores sodio/fosfato NaPi-IIa y NaPi-IIc en el túbulo proximal. Central en este eje es el FGF-23, producido por los osteoblastos que tiene acciones fosfatúricas sobre el riñón. Cuando se descubrió que el FGF23, la primera fosfatonina era de origen osteoblástico/osteocitico, quedó establecido el eje hueso-riñón. Probar definitivamente la existencia de este eje hueso-riñón y definir exactamente su rol fisiológico requerirá de investigaciones adicionales

The bone-kidney axis has been thought as a mechanism for the skeleton to communicate with the kidney to coordinate the mineralization of extracelular matrix with the renal handling of phosphate. Osteoblasts / osteocytes are well suited for coordinating systemic phosphate homeostasis and mineralization, since they express all of the implicated components of a possible bone-kidney axis, including PHEX, FGF-23, MEPE, and DMP1. In addition, autocrine effects of SIBLING proteins as MEPE and DMP1 on osteoblasts could regulate the production of ECM proteins that regulate mineralization. The kidney provides one of the effectors of the axis that regulates phosphate balance through the apical expression of NaPi-IIa and NaPi-IIc in proximal tubules. Central in this axis is FGF-23, produced by osteoblasts that has phosphaturic actions on the kidney. When FGF23, the first phosphatonin, was discovered to be of osteoblastic/osteocyte origin, the bone kidney axis was established. Proving the existence of this bone-kidney axis and defining its physiological role will require additional investigations