Holoprosencephaly and low molecular weight proteinuria: the human homologue of murine megalin deficiency

D Müller, T Ankermann, U Stephani… - American journal of …, 2001 - Elsevier
D Müller, T Ankermann, U Stephani, M Kirschstein, T Szelestei, FC Luft, TE Willnow
American journal of kidney diseases, 2001Elsevier
We encountered a child with holoprosencephaly, pulmonary insufficiency, absent circulating
vitamin D metabolites, mild albuminuria, and urinary excretion of vitamin D—binding protein.
The child displayed a phenotype highly reminiscent of that observed in mice genetically
deficient for megalin, a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor superfamily. Only the
Guthrie card was available from the child; the DNA sufficed for a limited haplotype analysis.
We were not able to implicate the megalin gene locus directly; however, the possibility of a …
We encountered a child with holoprosencephaly, pulmonary insufficiency, absent circulating vitamin D metabolites, mild albuminuria, and urinary excretion of vitamin D—binding protein. The child displayed a phenotype highly reminiscent of that observed in mice genetically deficient for megalin, a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor superfamily. Only the Guthrie card was available from the child; the DNA sufficed for a limited haplotype analysis. We were not able to implicate the megalin gene locus directly; however, the possibility of a functional megalin defect in this child remains. To the best of our knowledge, this patient represents the first report that pathologic abnormalities consistent with megalin deficiency are present in humans.
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