Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and genetic aberrations in the complement factor H-related 5 gene

J Hum Genet. 2012 Jul;57(7):459-64. doi: 10.1038/jhg.2012.57. Epub 2012 May 24.

Abstract

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a severe renal disorder that is associated with mutations in genes encoding proteins of the alternative complement pathway. Previously, we identified pathogenic variations in genes encoding complement regulators (CFH, CFI and MCP) in our aHUS cohort. In this study, we screened for mutations in the alternative pathway regulator CFHR5 in 65 aHUS patients by means of PCR on genomic DNA and sequence analysis. Potential pathogenicity of genetic alterations was determined by published data on CFHR5 variants, evolutionary conservation and in silico mutation prediction programs. Detection of serum CFHR5 was performed by western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A potentially pathogenic sequence variation was found in CFHR5 in three patients (4.6%). All variations were located in short consensus repeats that might be involved in binding to C3b, heparin or C-reactive protein. The identified CFHR5 mutations require functional studies to determine their relevance to aHUS, but they might be candidates for an altered genetic profile predisposing to the disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Complement Membrane Attack Complex / genetics
  • Complement Membrane Attack Complex / metabolism*
  • Complement Pathway, Alternative
  • Complement System Proteins / genetics*
  • Complement System Proteins / metabolism
  • Conserved Sequence
  • DNA Mutational Analysis / methods
  • Female
  • Genetic Testing / methods
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / genetics*
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / metabolism
  • Heterozygote
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • CFHR5 protein, human
  • Complement Membrane Attack Complex
  • SC5b-9 protein complex
  • Complement System Proteins