title: WT1 mutations may be a cause of severe renal failure due to nephroblastomatosis in Wilms' tumor patients.
abstract: Wilms' tumor suppressor gene (WT1) encodes a transcription factor required for normal development of the genitourinary system. Germline WT1 mutations have been described in a wide spectrum of pathological conditions, including kidney diseases, genital abnormalities and Wilms' tumor. Here we report a 4-year-old male patient who presented with bilateral cryptorchidism, Wilms' tumor, nephroblastomatosis and renal failure without nephrotic proteinuria. Sequence analysis of the WT1 gene demonstrated a constitutional heterozygous nonsense mutation in exon 7, which leads to a truncation of the WT1 protein at the zinc-finger 1. In the DNA of the tumor, we observed the same mutation in homo/hemizygosity. Given the requirement of WT1 for normal development, the WT1 mutation is likely to be responsible for the nephroblastomatosis and, in consequence, for the severe renal failure observed in our patient. This finding extends the spectrum of kidney diseases related to WT1 mutations and points to the need to screen for this gene in children with genitourinary abnormalities and Wilms' tumor because of the associated risk of nephroblastomatosis and renal failure in those carrying WT1 mutations.
authors: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Santín
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Fraga
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Ruíz
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Pardo
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Torrent
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Martí
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ballarín
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Ars
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Torra
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D018389:Codon, Nonsense; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000150:complications; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018389:Codon, Nonsense; D025721:WT1 Proteins