title: Genetic susceptibility to idiopathic membranous nephropathy in high-prevalence Area, Taiwan.
abstract: Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN) is one common cause of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in adults; 25% of MN patients proceed to end-stage renal disease. In adults, membranous nephropathy is a lead cause of nephrotic syndrome, with about 75% of the cases idiopathic. Secondary causes include autoimmune disease, infection, drugs and malignancy. Three hypotheses about pathogenesis have surfaced: preformed immune complex,in situimmune complex formation, and auto-antibody against podocyte membrane antigen. Pathogenesis does involve immune complex formation with later deposition in sub-epithelial sites, but definite mechanism is still unknown. Several genes were recently proven associated with primary membranous nephropathy in Taiwan:IL-6, NPHS1, TLR-4, TLR-9, STAT4,andMYH9. These may provide a useful tool for diagnosis and prognosis. This article reviews epidemiology and lends new information onKIRREL2(rs443186 and rs447707) polymorphisms as underlying causes of MN; polymorphisms revealed by this study warrant further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Genetics Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan ; Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Yin
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Genetics Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Chuen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Genetics Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Taiwan LandSeed Hospital, Pingjen City, Taoyuan, Taiwan ; Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Da-Chung
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan ; Department of Medical Genetics, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yuh Der Road, 404, Taichung, Taiwan ; Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fuu-Jen
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
keywords: Haplotype; Membranous glomerulonephritis (MN); Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)