University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
J Urol. 2013 Nov;190(5):1648-56. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2013.03.010. Epub 2013 Mar 7.
The limitations imposed by human clinical studies and mammalian models of nephrolithiasis have hampered the development of effective medical treatments and preventive measures for decades. The simple but elegant Drosophila melanogaster is emerging as a powerful translational model of human disease, including nephrolithiasis. It may provide important information essential to our understanding of stone formation. We present the current state of research using D. melanogaster as a model of human nephrolithiasis.
We comprehensively reviewed the English language literature using PubMed®. When necessary, authoritative texts on relevant subtopics were consulted.
The genetic composition, anatomical structure and physiological function of Drosophila malpighian tubules are remarkably similar to those of the human nephron. The direct effects of dietary manipulation, environmental alteration and genetic variation on stone formation can be observed and quantified in a matter of days. Several Drosophila models of human nephrolithiasis have been developed, including genetically linked and environmentally induced stones. A model of calcium oxalate stone formation is among the most recent fly models of human nephrolithiasis.
The ability to readily manipulate and quantify stone formation in D. melanogaster models of human nephrolithiasis presents the urological community with a unique opportunity to increase our understanding of this enigmatic disease.
数十年来，人类临床研究和哺乳动物肾结石模型的局限性严重阻碍了有效医疗治疗和预防措施的发展。简单而优雅的黑腹果蝇正在成为人类疾病（包括肾结石）的强大转化模型。它可能为我们理解结石形成提供重要的必要信息。我们介绍了目前使用黑腹果蝇作为人类肾结石模型的研究现状。
我们使用 PubMed®全面回顾了英文文献。在必要时，我们查阅了相关子主题的权威文本。
黑腹果蝇的遗传组成、解剖结构和生理功能与人类肾单位非常相似。饮食干预、环境改变和遗传变异对结石形成的直接影响可以在几天内观察和量化。已经开发了几种人类肾结石的果蝇模型，包括遗传相关和环境诱导的结石。钙草酸结石形成模型是最近的人类肾结石果蝇模型之一。
在人类肾结石的黑腹果蝇模型中，能够轻松地操纵和量化结石形成，为泌尿科医生提供了一个独特的机会，以增加对这种神秘疾病的理解。
