LMX1B mutation with residual transcriptional activity as a cause of isolated glomerulopathy

Nail-patella syndrome (NPS) is a rare autosomal-dominant disorder caused by LMX1B mutation. In patients with the renal lesions typical of NPS without skeletal or nail findings, it is described as nail-patella-like renal disease (NPLRD). However, the pathogenesis of NPLRD is largely unknown.

A 6-year-old girl with microscopic haematuria and mild proteinuria was diagnosed with NPLRD because of an aberrantly thickened glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and deposition of Type III collagen in the GBM observed by electron microscopy. Immunohistological analyses of podocyte protein expression were performed on biopsy tissues. Sequence analysis of LMX1B was performed, and the functional consequences of the detected mutation were analysed by luciferase reporter assay.

When analysing molecules that are important for podocyte development, maintenance and maturation, CD2AP expression was found to be altered in the podocytes. A novel LMX1B missense mutation (R246Q) was identified. Functional analyses revealed partial but significant impairment of R246Q transcriptional activity. However, no dominant-negative effect of R246Q was detected, which suggests that NPLRD is caused by LMX1B haploinsufficiency.

This is the first report on LMX1B mutation identified in a patient with NPLRD. Residual transcriptional activity would account for normality of the nails and patella in this case. Genetic and pathological analyses of additional cases would clarify the role of LMX1B in glomerulopathy without systemic symptoms, which, together with nephropathy in NPS, can be designated as 'LMX1B nephropathy'.