Ye Zhitao, Lu Di, Zhou Shumin, Li Guanyu, Long Lili, Zhang Jiayi, Liu Ming, Gao Xia
Department of Nephrology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China.
Maoming Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Maoming, 525000, China.
Sci Rep. 2025 May 18;15(1):17236. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-01663-2.
Alport syndrome is a hereditary kidney disease with significant variations in onset and prognosis. While 80-85% of cases are due to pathogenic variants in the COL4A5 gene, there is a notable lack of mouse models with Col4a5 mutations for basic research. Our research presents an 8-year-old child with Alport syndrome, exhibiting facial edema and abnormal urine. Next-generation sequencing revealed a c.1517-1G > T mutation in the intron sequence of the COL4A5 gene. Minigene experiments confirmed that this intronic mutation affects mRNA splicing. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we developed a Col4a5-c.1517-1G > T mutant mouse model. Col4α5-deficient mice exhibited growth retardation and reduced lifespan. Renal function analysis indicated progressive deterioration, with high levels of BUN and creatinine. Histological and ultrastructural analyses revealed abnormalities such as mesangial sclerosis, interstitial fibrosis and severe irregularity in membrane thickness. Additionally, significant immune cell infiltration was observed in the renal interstitium. This mouse model provides a valuable tool for studying the role of immune cells in the pathogenesis and treatment of XLAS. It is also the first reported X-linked Alport syndrome mouse model caused by a splicing mutation.
奥尔波特综合征是一种遗传性肾脏疾病,其发病和预后存在显著差异。虽然80 - 85%的病例是由COL4A5基因的致病变异引起的,但用于基础研究的Col4a5突变小鼠模型明显缺乏。我们的研究报告了一名8岁的奥尔波特综合征患儿,表现为面部水肿和尿液异常。下一代测序揭示了COL4A5基因内含子序列中的c.1517 - 1G>T突变。小基因实验证实,这种内含子突变影响mRNA剪接。利用CRISPR/Cas9系统,我们构建了Col4a5 - c.1517 - 1G>T突变小鼠模型。Col4α5缺陷小鼠表现出生长发育迟缓以及寿命缩短。肾功能分析表明肾功能逐渐恶化,血尿素氮和肌酐水平升高。组织学和超微结构分析显示存在系膜硬化、间质纤维化和膜厚度严重不规则等异常情况。此外,在肾间质中观察到大量免疫细胞浸润。该小鼠模型为研究免疫细胞在X连锁遗传性肾炎(XLAS)发病机制和治疗中的作用提供了有价值的工具。它也是首个报道的由剪接突变引起的X连锁奥尔波特综合征小鼠模型。