title: A mouse model for distal renal tubular acidosis reveals a previously unrecognized role of the V-ATPase a4 subunit in the proximal tubule.
abstract: The V-ATPase is a multisubunit complex that transports protons across membranes. Mutations of its B1 or a4 subunit are associated with distal renal tubular acidosis and deafness. In the kidney, the a4 subunit is expressed in intercalated cells of the distal nephron, where the V-ATPase controls acid/base secretion, and in proximal tubule cells, where its role is less clear. Here, we report that a4 KO mice suffer not only from severe acidosis but also from proximal tubule dysfunction with defective endocytic trafficking, proteinuria, phosphaturia and accumulation of lysosomal material and we provide evidence that these findings may be also relevant in patients. In the inner ear, the a4 subunit co-localized with pendrin at the apical side of epithelial cells lining the endolymphatic sac. As a4 KO mice were profoundly deaf and displayed enlarged endolymphatic fluid compartments mirroring the alterations in pendrin KO mice, we propose that pendrin and the proton pump co-operate in endolymph homeostasis. Thus, our mouse model gives new insights into the divergent functions of the V-ATPase and the pathophysiology of a4-related symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Humangenetik, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: J Christopher
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hennings
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.forename: Antje K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Huebner
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stauber
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Jentsch
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vargas-Poussou
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eladari
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hübner
mesh_terms: D000141:Acidosis, Renal Tubular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases