Gene polymorphism of complement factor H in a Turkish patient with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II
Betul Sozeri1, Sevgi Mir, Afig Berdeli
1Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. betulsozeri@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is characterized by proliferation of mesangial and endothelial cells and by thickening of the peripheral capillary walls. Type II of the MPGN is associated with complement abnormalities which are factor H deficiencies due to mutations in the complement factor H (CFH) gene. We report a 15-year-old boy diagnosed with MPGN II in whom genetic analyses of the CFH gene revealed that the patient was heterozygote for a polymorphism in exon 2 of the CFH (c.184G>A), heterozygote for a polymorphism in exon 9 of the CFH (c.1204C>T), and heterozygote for a polymorphism in exon 10 of the CFH (c.1419G>A). These data recapitulate a prototypical complement genetic profile, the presence of major risk factors for MPGN II, which support the hypothesis that these dense deposit diseases have a common pathogenic mechanism involving dysregulation of the alternative pathway of complement activation.
Insights
Genetic analysis revealed specific complement factor H gene polymorphisms in a patient with Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis Type II. These findings support a common mechanism involving complement pathway dysregulation in dense deposit diseases.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Genetics
- Immunology
Background:
- Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) involves mesangial/endothelial cell proliferation and capillary wall thickening.
- MPGN Type II is linked to complement abnormalities, particularly factor H deficiencies caused by CFH gene mutations.
Observation:
- A 15-year-old boy diagnosed with MPGN II underwent genetic analysis.
- The patient was found to be heterozygous for polymorphisms in exons 2, 9, and 10 of the complement factor H (CFH) gene.
Findings:
- The identified CFH gene polymorphisms (c.184G>A, c.1204C>T, c.1419G>A) represent a characteristic genetic profile for MPGN II.
- This profile indicates the presence of significant risk factors for developing MPGN II.
Implications:
- The findings support a shared pathogenic mechanism for dense deposit diseases.
- This mechanism likely involves the dysregulation of the alternative pathway of complement activation.
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