Treatment of Fabry Nephropathy: A Literature Review.

Fabry disease is an X-linked inherited lysosomal storage disorder with a deficiency of α-galactosidase A activity, which results in the intracellular accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and related glycosphingolipids in various organs. Fabry nephropathy is one of the major complications of Fabry disease, and kidney damage is often related to cardiovascular disease and mortality. The treatment of Fabry nephropathy thus helps prolong life expectancy.

Infection-Related Glomerulonephritis with Dominant IgA Deposition.

Since 1995, when we reported the case of a patient with glomerulonephritis with IgA deposition that occurred after a methicillin-resistant (MRSA) infection, many reports of MRSA infection-associated glomerulonephritis have accumulated. This disease is being systematized as Staphylococcus infection-associated glomerulonephritis (SAGN) in light of the apparent cause of infection, and as immunoglobulin A-dominant deposition infection-related glomerulonephritis (IgA-IRGN) in light of its histopathology. This glomerulonephritis usually presents as rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis or acute kidney injury with various degrees of proteinuria and microscopic hematuria along with an ongoing infection.

The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (tofogliflozin) on renal tubular damage in diabetic patients without albuminuria.

Purpose: The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors comprise a new class of glucose-lowering drugs for individuals with diabetes. Large-scale clinical trials indicated that SGLT2 inhibitors have both a cardiovascular-protective and renal-protective effects. A reduction in glomerular hyperfiltration and a decrease in albuminuria are suspected as the main causes of SGLT2 inhibitors' renoprotective effect.

LMX1B-associated nephropathy that showed myelin figures on electron microscopy.

The mutation of LIM homeodomain transcription factor LMX1B gene leads to nail-patella syndrome (NPS), which is characterized by dysplastic nails, hypoplastic patellae, iliac horns and nephropathy. The characteristic renal histological finding of NPS nephropathy is irregular thickening of the glomerular basement membrane with patchy lucent areas, including deposits of bundles of type III collagen fibrils revealed by electron microscopy (EM). Fabry disease is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of α-galactosidase A activity, and the characteristic EM finding is a lamellated membrane structure (myelin figures).

Serum 20S proteasome levels are associated with disease activity in MPO-ANCA-associated microscopic polyangiitis.

Background: Proteasomes are found in both the cell nucleus and cytoplasm and play a major role in the ubiquitin-dependent and -independent non-lysosomal pathways of intracellular protein degradation. Proteasomes are also involved in the turnover of various regulatory proteins, antigen processing, cell differentiation, and apoptosis. To determine the diagnostic value of serum proteasome in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), we investigated patients with AAV at various stages of the disease.

An Adult Patient with Alagille Syndrome Showing Mainly Renal Failure and Vascular Abnormality without Liver Manifestation.

Alagille syndrome is an inherited multisystemic disorder. We herein report an atypical case of a Japanese adult patient with Alagille syndrome. He had been diagnosed with Alagille syndrome as an infant based on a liver biopsy.

Clinical course and pathological findings of two late-onset Fabry hemizygous patients including mulberry cell counts after enzyme replacement therapy.

Fabry disease is an X-linked inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of α-galactosidase A activity, resulting in the intracellular accumulation of globotriaosylceramide and related glycosphingolipids. The phenotypes of Fabry disease in both males and females are grouped into two categories: the classical type and the late-onset type. The classical type shows general symptoms including angiokeratoma(s), acroparesthesia, hypohidrosis, corneal opacity, and gastrointestinal symptoms from an early age.

The relationship between serum magnesium levels and mortality in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients: A 10-year follow-up study.

Introduction Recently, although there are many reports showing that serum magnesium concentration is a predictor of mortality in dialysis patients, the observation periods of those reports were of short duration, typically around 12 months. Thus, we investigated this relationship over a longer follow-up period. Methods This retrospective, observational study included a total of 83 non-diabetic hemodialysis patients.

Microscopic polyangiitis associated with thymic tumor: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Thymic hyperplasia and thymic epithelial tumor (thymoma) have been associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases. Renal involvement has been reported in patients with thymoma. Minimal change disease and membranous nephropathy are frequently observed in glomerular lesions of thymoma patients, but ANCA-associated renal vasculitis is rare.

A Case of Proliferative Glomerulonephritis with Monoclonal IgG Deposits That Showed Predominantly Membranous Features.

In 2004, the novel category of monoclonal IgG deposition disease has been proposed and termed "proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits" (PGNMID). This disease is characterized by membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and staining for a single light-chain isotype and gamma heavy-chain subclass. A 76-year-old male who had monoclonal gammopathy was referred to our hospital because of proteinuria.

Urinary mulberry cells and mulberry bodies are useful tool to detect late-onset Fabry disease.

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by a lack of α-galactosidase A activity, which leads to the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in various organs. A complete lack of α-galactosidase A activity in a hemizygous male is the classical phenotype, and some hemizygous males show primarily cardiac and/or renal symptoms that appear in adulthood; this is called the variant type or the late-onset type. The kidney and heart are the major target organs, with damage to these organs related to mortality.

A Renal Variant of Fabry Disease Diagnosed by the Presence of Urinary Mulberry Cells.

Fabry disease is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of α-galactosidase A. This disease is classified into two types, namely a classical and variant type. We herein present the case of a 36-year-old man who showed a renal variant of Fabry disease and was diagnosed at an early stage by the presence of mulberry cells.

Retention of acetylcarnitine in chronic kidney disease causes insulin resistance in skeletal muscle.

Insulin resistance occurs frequently in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, the mechanisms of insulin resistance associated with chronic kidney disease are unclear. It is known that an increase in the mitochondrial acetyl-CoA (AcCoA)/CoA ratio causes insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, and this ratio is regulated by carnitine acetyltransferase that exchanges acetyl moiety between CoA and carnitine.

Serum decoy receptor 3 levels are associated with the disease activity of MPO-ANCA-associated renal vasculitis.

Type 17 T-helper (Th17) cells have been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Th17 cell proliferation is promoted by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like ligand 1A (TL1A), which binds to death receptor 3 (DR3) expressed on Th17 cells. Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is known to block the TL1A-DR3 pathway by binding TL1A.

Hyperthyroidism associated with obesity-related glomerulopathy-like pathologic features.

Thyroid dysfunction is related to many kidney diseases. We herein present the case of a 39-year-old woman who exhibited obesity-related glomerulopathy-like pathologic features in combination with hyperthyroidism. She displayed hyperthyroidism in spite of receiving anti-thyroid drug treatment, with massive proteinuria (4.

Overexpression of Mafb in podocytes protects against diabetic nephropathy.

We previously showed that the transcription factor Mafb is essential for podocyte differentiation and foot process formation. Podocytes are susceptible to injury in diabetes, and this injury leads to progression of diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we generated transgenic mice that overexpress Mafb in podocytes using the nephrin promoter/enhancer.

Human parvovirus B19-induced acute glomerulonephritis: a case report.

Human parvovirus B19 (HPV B19) infection is well known as a cause of erythema infectiosum in children. Acute glomerulonephritis due to HPVB19 infection is rarely observed in adults. Here, we present the case of a 45-year-old female who showed acute glomerulonephritis induced by HPVB19 infection with various autoantibodies.

A case of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with myeloid bodies.

The presence of myeloid bodies in electron microscopy is a characteristic finding of Fabry's disease. Here, we present a male patient, whose renal biopsy findings suggested the coexistence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and Fabry's disease, because of the presence of segmental hyalinosis and/or sclerosis in glomeruli and myeloid bodies in electron microscopy. But finally, Fabry's disease was excluded as a diagnosis because the α-galactosidase A activity in leukocyte and plasma in this patient was within normal limits.

A novel diabetes mellitus mouse model, MAFA-deficient and beta cell-specific MAFK-overexpressing hybrid transgenic mice, developed severe diabetic nephropathy and improved with TCV-116 (candesartan cilexetil) treatment.

Many models of diabetic nephropathy have been reported. However, it is rare that the characteristic findings of severe human diabetic nephropathy, such as diffuse, nodular, and exudative lesions, are all detected in one model mouse. Previously, we reported that MAFA-deficient and beta cell-specific MAFK-overexpressing hybrid transgenic (Mafa(-/-)Mafk (+)) mice develop diabetes mellitus and, after uninephrectomy, demonstrate these characteristic lesions.

Serum TNF-related and weak inducer of apoptosis levels in septic shock patients.

Capillary permeability is a tightly regulated feature of microcirculation in all organ beds. In sepsis, this feature is fundamentally altered. We have previously reported elevated levels of angiopoietin-2 in patients with septic shock, and have investigated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related and weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), which mediates both angiogenesis and inflammation, in those patients.

Serum levels of BAFF and APRIL in myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated renal vasculitis: association with disease activity.

Background: A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and the B cell activation factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) have proven to be key factors in the selection and survival of B cells, and a higher concentration of BAFF has been shown to contribute to autoreactive B cell survival and elevated autoantibody production. Here, serum BAFF and APRIL levels were investigated to analyze their association with disease activity in myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (MPO-ANCA)-associated renal vasculitis.

Methods: APRIL and BAFF levels in serum obtained from 37 patients with MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis were measured by ELISA.