Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

Hiroshi Kimura

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroshi Kimura.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Rapidly progressive steroid-resistant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis associated with an INF2 exon 6 variant.

Variants in the inverted formin-2 (INF2) gene are a known cause of hereditary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. We report a case of rapidly progressive FSGS associated with a rare INF2 variant. A 12-year-old boy developed proteinuria and was diagnosed with FSGS at age 14 following a renal biopsy. Steroid therapy and subsequent immunosuppressive treatments, including plasma exchange, were ineffective. At age 15, a heterozygous missense variant in exon 6 of the INF2 gene (c.763G>A, p.Asp255Asn) was identified. Despite conservative management, the patient progressed to end-stage kidney disease at age 17. Although exon 6 variants are rarely reported, the present case showed a relatively aggressive renal course.

Humans

Defective but tumorigenic: the evolutionary and functional roles of mutated oncoviruses.

Human oncogenic viruses contribute significantly to the global health burden and include seven types: Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B virus, human T-cell leukemia virus type 1, human papillomavirus, hepatitis C virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, and Merkel cell polyomavirus. While the roles of latent or integrated viral genomes in cancer have been documented, emerging evidence highlights the contribution of defective viruses-those carrying intragenic deletions or loss-of-function mutations-in promoting viral oncogenesis. These altered genomes often lack genes essential for lytic replication or immune recognition, which enhances their persistence and immune evasion. In virus-associated diseases, specific patterns of gene retention and deletion suggest that host-driven selective pressures drive the emergence of these altered genomes. This review examines the generation, prevalence, and functional impact of these viruses, reframing them as active participants in disease development and progression. Recognizing their role offers new insights into viral tumor evolution and creates opportunities for applications in viral diagnostics and targeted intervention strategies.

Humans