Mutations in INF2 may be associated with renal histology other than focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

In 2010, INF2 mutations were associated with autosomal-dominant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), clinically presenting with moderate proteinuria in adolescence. However, in the meantime, cases with more severe clinical courses have been described, including progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) during childhood. INF2 mutations in patients with isolated FSGS are clustered in exons 2 to 4, encoding the diaphanous inhibitory domain, involved in the regulation of the podocyte actin cytoskeleton.

We report a family with 14 affected individuals (autosomal-dominant mode of inheritance), most of whom presented with nephrotic-range proteinuria, hypertension, and progressive renal failure. Four members received a kidney transplant without disease recurrence. Two patients underwent renal biopsy with the result of minimal-change glomerulopathy and IgA nephropathy respectively. We performed mutational analysis of ACTN4, CD2AP, COQ6, INF2, LAMB2, NPHS1, NPHS2, PLCE1, TRPC6, and WT1 in the index patient by next-generation sequencing. Additionally, in 6 affected and 2 unaffected family members target diagnostics were performed.

We identified a novel heterozygous mutation c.490G>C (p.(Ala164Pro) in exon 3 of the INF2 gene in the index patient and 6 additionally examined affected family members. In silico analysis predicted it as "probably damaging". Additionally, three patients and 2 unaffected relatives harbored a novel heterozygous variant in ACTN4 (c.1149C>G, p.(Ile383Met)) with uncertain pathogenicity.

Mutations in INF2 are associated with familial proteinuric diseases - irrespective of the presence of FSGS and in the case of rapid disease progression. Therefore, mutational analysis should be considered in patients with renal histology other than FSGS and severe renal phenotype.