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Oral motor dysfunction and feeding difficulties in nephropathic cystinosis.

Nephropathic cystinosis is a genetic disorder in which the amino acid cystine accumulates in lysosomes, resulting in multiorgan dysfunction. Progressive neuromuscular dysfunction, with bulbar and upper extremity weakness, has been described in adults with this disorder. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether there was evidence of early bulbar involvement, suggested by feeding difficulties or oral motor dysfunction in these patients, and whether the feeding and oral motor problems were associated with other evidence of neurologic dysfunction. Twenty-two children and adolescents with nephropathic cystinosis were studied. Parents completed questionnaires on feeding history and oral motor problems. Eighteen patients were given an oral motor examination, and 14 received a complete neurologic examination. The majority of children had a history of feeding difficulties. Seven children required a gastrostomy tube. Abnormalities on oral motor examination included hypotonia, abnormal gag reflex, and throaty or congested voice. Abnormalities on neurologic examination included hypotonia, muscle weakness, gross and fine motor dysfunction, and ataxia. The results indicate that feeding difficulties and oral motor dysfunction are common in children with cystinosis and appear to correlate with the general degree of neurologic dysfunction. Long-term follow-up is necessary to determine whether the early oral motor problems predict the later development of the progressive myopathy observed in adults with cystinosis.

Adolescent↗

Molecular analysis of cystinosis: probable Irish origin of the most common French Canadian mutation.

Infantile nephropathic cystinosis, an autosomal recessive disease characterized by a lysosomal accumulation of cystine, presents as failure to thrive, rickets and proximal renal tubular acidosis. The cystinosis gene, CTNS, which maps to chromosome 17p13, encodes a predicted 55 kDa protein with characteristics of a lysosomal membrane protein. We have conducted extensive linkage analysis in a French Canadian cystinosis cohort identifying a founding haplotype present in approximately half (21/40) of the chromosomes studied. Subsequent mutational analysis, in addition to identifying two novel mutations, has unexpectedly revealed a mutation which has been previously found in Irish (but not French) cystinotic families on these 21 French Canadian chromosomes. Haplotype analysis of two Irish families with this mutation supports the hypothesis that Celtic chromosomes represent an extensive portion of cystinosis chromosomes in French Canada. Our analysis underlines the genetic heterogeneity of the French Canadian population, reflecting a frequently unrecognized contribution from non-Gallic sources including the Irish.

Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral↗

Infantile cystinosis presenting as chronic constipation.

An infant presented with persistent constipation as the first clinical symptom of cystinosis before evidence of renal Fanconi's syndrome. The history of muscle weakness, failure to thrive, polydipsia, and polyuria prompted subsequent clinical and laboratory evaluations, leading to the correct diagnosis of cystinosis. Primary and persistent constipation as an initial manifestation of cystinosis has not been reported previously. Although rare, cystinosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of constipation if other suggestive signs or symptoms are present.

Chronic Disease↗

[Nephropathic and benign cystinosis (author's transl)].

Cystinosis is a rare, autosomally and recessively inherited disorder of amino-acid metabolism with ocular involvement. Four patients with this disease are reported on. The clinical signs of the first patient, who had nephropathic cystinosis, are compared with the signs and symptoms of the benign phenotype (benign cystinosis). In both nephropathic and benign cystinosis, multiple crystals were found in the cornea and conjunctiva. In the second case a large number of crystals were demonstrated in bone-marrow smears and conjunctival sections; a chromatogram of the conjunctiva indicated the presence of cystine. Although the results of an analysis of cultured fibroblasts from this case were contradictory, an elevated cystine level appeared likely. Crystals were also found in conjunctival sections from the third case. In the fourth case it proved impossible to demonstrate crystals clearly in either the bone marrow or in conjunctival sections. There was no evidence of any other cause of the corneal or conjunctival crystals.

Adolescent↗

CTNS mutations in an American-based population of cystinosis patients.

Nephropathic cystinosis is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease characterized by renal failure at 10 years of age and other systemic complications. The gene for cystinosis, CTNS, has 12 exons. Its 2.6-kb mRNA codes for a 367-amino-acid putative cystine transporter with seven transmembrane domains. Previously reported mutations include a 65-kb "European" deletion involving marker D17S829 and 11 small mutations. Mutation analysis of 108 American-based nephropathic cystinosis patients revealed that 48 patients (44%) were homozygous for the 65-kb deletion, 2 had a smaller major deletion, 11 were homozygous and 3 were heterozygous for 753G-->A (W138X), and 24 had 21 other mutations. In 20 patients (19%), no mutations were found. Of 82 alleles bearing the 65-kb deletion, 38 derived from Germany, 28 from the British Isles, and 4 from Iceland. Eighteen new mutations were identified, including the first reported missense mutations, two in-frame deletions, and mutations in patients of African American, Mexican, and Indian ancestry. CTNS mutations are spread throughout the leader sequence, transmembrane, and nontransmembrane regions. According to a cystinosis clinical severity score, homozygotes for the 65-kb deletion and for W138X have average disease, whereas mutations involving the first amino acids prior to transmembrane domains are associated with mild disease. By northern blot analysis, CTNS was not expressed in patients homozygous for the 65-kb deletion but was expressed in all 15 other patients tested. These data demonstrate the origins of CTNS mutations in America and provide a basis for possible molecular diagnosis in this population.

Adolescent↗

The promoter of a lysosomal membrane transporter gene, CTNS, binds Sp-1, shares sequences with the promoter of an adjacent gene, CARKL, and causes cystinosis if mutated in a critical region.

Although >55 CTNS mutations occur in patients with the lysosomal storage disorder cystinosis, no regulatory mutations have been reported, because the promoter has not been defined. Using CAT reporter constructs of sequences 5' to the CTNS coding sequence, we identified the CTNS promoter as the region encompassing nucleotides -316 to +1 with respect to the transcription start site. This region contains an Sp-1 regulatory element (GGCGGCG) at positions -299 to -293, which binds authentic Sp-1, as shown by electrophoretic-mobility-shift assays. Three patients exhibited mutations in the CTNS promoter. One patient with nephropathic cystinosis carried a -295 G-->C substitution disrupting the Sp-1 motif, whereas two patients with ocular cystinosis displayed a -303 G-->T substitution in one case and a -303 T insertion in the other case. Each mutation drastically reduced CAT activity when inserted into a reporter construct. Moreover, each failed either to cause a mobility shift when exposed to nuclear extract or to compete with the normal oligonucleotide's mobility shift. The CTNS promoter region shares 41 nucleotides with the promoter region of an adjacent gene of unknown function, CARKL, whose start site is 501 bp from the CTNS start site. However, the patients' CTNS promoter mutations have no effect on CARKL promoter activity. These findings suggest that the CTNS promoter region should be examined in patients with cystinosis who have fewer than two coding-sequence mutations.

Adult↗

Molecular pathogenesis of cystinosis: effect of CTNS mutations on the transport activity and subcellular localization of cystinosin.

Cystinosis is an inherited disorder characterized by defective lysosomal efflux of cystine. Three clinical forms (infantile, juvenile and ocular cystinosis) have been described according to the age of onset and severity of the symptoms. The causative gene, CTNS, encodes a seven transmembrane domain protein, cystinosin, which we recently identified as a H+-driven cystine transporter using an in vitro transport assay. In this study, we explored the relationship between transport activity and intracellular localization of cystinosin mutants and their associated clinical phenotype. Thirty-one pathogenic mutations (24 missense mutations, seven in-frame deletions or insertions) were analysed. Most of the mutations did not alter the lysosomal localization of cystinosin, although three partially mislocalized the protein independently of its C-terminal sorting motif, thus confirming the presence of an additional sorting mechanism. Sixteen of 19 mutations associated with infantile cystinosis abolished transport, whereas three of five mutations associated with juvenile or ocular forms strongly reduced transport, in agreement with the milder clinical phenotype. Five atypical, unclassified or misclassified mutations could be clarified using the transport data and additional genetic information. Overall, our data demonstrate that, excluding premature termination of cystinosin, impaired transport is the most frequent cause of pathogenicity, with infantile cystinosis generally resulting from a total loss of activity. Thus the transport assay could be used as a prognostic tool when novel mutations are identified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Intestinal mucosa in nephropathic cystinosis.

The major manifestations of nephropathic cystinosis are renal tubular acidosis, vitamin D-resistant rickets, and dwarfism. Cystine crystals are deposited in a variety of cells, mainly phagocytic, including macrophages of the intestinal lamina propria. Previously, ultrastructural changes were suggested to occur in the absorptive epithelium as well, possibly as a result of local cystine toxicity. We report here on the light- and electron-microscopic findings in the jejunal mucosa of two patients, aged 4 and 9 years with nephropathic cystinosis. Cystine crystals were easily identified in semithin sections of plastic-embedded specimens as brick- and hexagon-shaped spaces in macrophages. Electron microscopy showed that all crystals were in single-membrane-limited bodies (lysosomes), within phagocytic cells, and exclusively located in the lamina propria. In contrast to previous findings, the absorptive epithelium showed no abnormalities. We conclude that the growth failure in cystinosis is not a consequence of morphological toxic alterations in the intestinal epithelium, but is related to the known metabolic abnormalities of this condition. The use of rectal suction biopsy as a means of diagnosing cystinosis is also suggested as an alternative to other diagnostic methods.

Biopsy↗

Intralysosomal cystine accumulation in mice lacking cystinosin, the protein defective in cystinosis.

Cystinosis is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by an accumulation of intralysosomal cystine. The causative gene, CTNS, encodes cystinosin, a seven-transmembrane-domain protein, which we recently showed to be a lysosomal cystine transporter. The most severe and frequent form of cystinosis, the infantile form, appears around 6 to 12 months, with a proximal tubulopathy (de Toni-Debré-Fanconi syndrome) and ocular damage. End-stage renal failure is reached by 10 years of age. Accumulation of cystine in all tissues eventually leads to multisystemic disease. Treatment with cysteamine, which reduces the concentration of intracellular cystine, delays disease progression but has undesirable side effects. We report the first Ctns knockout mouse model generated using a promoter trap approach. We replaced the last four Ctns exons by an internal ribosome entry site-betagal-neo cassette and showed that the truncated protein was mislocalized and nonfunctional. Ctns(-/-) mice accumulated cystine in all organs tested, and cystine crystals, pathognomonic of cystinosis, were observed. Ctns(-/-) mice developed ocular changes similar to those observed in affected individuals, bone defects and behavioral anomalies. Interestingly, Ctns(-/-) mice did not develop signs of a proximal tubulopathy, or renal failure. A preliminary therapeutic trial using an oral administration of cysteamine was carried out and demonstrated the efficiency of this treatment for cystine clearance in Ctns(-/-) mice. This animal model will prove an invaluable and unique tool for testing emerging therapeutics for cystinosis.

Alleles↗

Corneal thickness in nephropathic cystinosis.

Cystinosis is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder in which non-protein cystine accumulates within cellular lysosomes owing to a defect in lysosomal cystine transport. The pathognomonic ocular manifestation of cystinosis is the deposition of distinctive iridescent crystals in the cornea, not associated with any inflammatory response or recognised change in corneal function. We measured corneal thickness in nine patients with infantile nephropathic cystinosis. We also studied a corneal button from one of these patients who underwent corneal transplantation. All nine patients had increased corneal thickness in comparison with an age matched control population. Electron microscopy analysis of the cystinotic button revealed structural changes of both epithelium and endothelium layers. Increased corneal thickness in patients with nephropathic cystinosis may reflect subclinical corneal oedema.

Adolescent↗

Photic sneeze reflex in nephropathic cystinosis.

Photic induced sneeze is a reflex that occurs in certain individuals after exposure to bright light. Cystinosis is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism in which nonprotein cystine accumulates within lysosomes. The pathognomonic ocular manifestation of cystinosis is corneal crystal deposition. We observed photic induced sneezes during ophthalmoscopic examination in five of 19 patients with nephropathic cystinosis (26%). We report on this observation and discuss possible pathophysiological mechanisms for photic induced sneezing in cystinosis.

Cystinosis↗

Glomerular lesions in patients with late-onset cystinosis with massive proteinuria.

3 siblings--2 brothers aged 18 and 13 years, and 1 sister, aged 11 years--with adolescent or late-onset cystinosis presented with massive proteinuria. At the time their glomerular filtration rate was normal or only modestly diminished. Though glomerular injury was evident, renal tubular functional abnormalities were also present. Renal biopsy revealed histopathologic features typical of the nephropathic form of cystinosis with the Fanconi syndrome: polykaryocytosis, varying degrees of glomerular sclerosis, thickening and reduplication of basement membrane, fused foot processes, dilated tubules with altered epithelial cell features, and interstitial fibrosis. Fine granular deposits of C3 and IgM are irregularly distributed in the glomeruli, findings which have not been described in cystinosis. These deposits are possibly immune complexes being deposited in the glomeruli unrelated to the cystine-storage disease or they may represent a localized activation of the complement system induced by the glomerular injury of cystinosis.

Adolescent↗

Muscle carnitine repletion by long-term carnitine supplementation in nephropathic cystinosis.

The renal tubular Fanconi syndrome of children with nephropathic cystinosis causes plasma and muscle carnitine depletion. L-Carnitine replacement therapy for up to 18 mo has previously been shown to normalize plasma but not muscle carnitine levels. We treated six cystinosis patients, aged 1 to 4 y, with a mean dosage of 92 mg L-carnitine/kg/d given every 6 h for an average of 62 mo. Despite fractional excretions of free carnitine ranging from 55 to 108%, plasma-free and total carnitine concentrations were maintained at or above normal levels. At the end of the carnitine replacement period, the six children had muscle-free carnitine values ranging from 16.0 to 28.0 nmol/mg noncollagen protein compared with values of 3.0 to 11.4 for cystinosis children not supplemented with carnitine [normal, 22.7 +/- 5.0 (SD) nmol/mg protein]. Total muscle carnitine values were also normalized by L-carnitine replacement. The monthly increase in total body creatinine production, a measure of muscle mass, was higher (p = 0.036) in children with normal plasma free carnitine concentrations (3.4 +/- 0.9 mg/d) than in children with low plasma free carnitine (2.3 +/- 0.7 mg/d). No serious side effects, such as severe diarrhea, were observed. We conclude that oral L-carnitine replacement can normalize muscle carnitine content in children with cystinosis.

Carnitine↗

Negligible urinary cysteamine loss in cystinosis patients with Fanconi syndrome.

Cystinosis is an inborn error of lysosomal cystine transporter, resulting in cystine accumulation in lysosomes of all cells. Renal Fanconi syndrome is an early sign of kidney involvement in cystinosis patients. Cysteamine, a small amino-thiol, depletes intralysosomal cystine content and reduces organ damage. However, it does not reverse renal Fanconi syndrome and only postpones the progression to renal failure. We examined whether cysteamine could be lost in the urine of cystinosis patients with Fanconi syndrome, which may explain the inefficiency of treatment. Urinary cysteamine loss was studied in 6 cystinosis patients with and without Fanconi syndrome and was less than I% of ingested dose in all patients.

Adolescent↗

An improved method for heterozygote detection of cystinosis, using polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Heterozygotes for the autosomal recessive disease cystinosis are currently detected by measuring the cystine content of mixed-leukocyte preparations. The present study was designed to reassess the accuracy of this method and to determine whether measuring the cystine content of purified polymorphonuclear leukocytes would improve heterozygote detection. Blood samples were obtained from 29 obligate heterozygotes for nephropathic cystinosis, one obligate heterozygote for benign cystinosis, and 18 individuals presumed to be normal. When the cystine content of mixed-leukocyte preparations was measured, three heterozygote values overlapped the normal range. When polymorphonuclear-leukocyte cystine content was measured, no heterozygote values were within the normal range. Measurement of the cystine content of purified preparations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes affords a simple method that improves the sensitivity of heterozygote detection for cystinosis.

Cysteine↗

[Tubular handling of potassium in cystinosis].

Seven patients with cystinosis (Ccr between 30 and 90 ml/m/1.73 m2), were studied attempting to delineate renal tubular handling of potassium. Ks, Ck/Ccr X 100, Aldou and UAldo V/Ks were determined in basal conditions; tubular handling of water and sodium, and clearance of potassium were studied during hypotonic saline diuresis. Results obtained in cystinosis were compared with normal values and with values found in renal insufficiencies in the same range of GFR. Studies performed indicate that in cystinosis Ks is lower and Ck/Ccr X 100 and UAldo V/Ks higher than in normal children. During hypotonic saline diuresis, patients with cystinosis presented higher fractional water, sodium and potassium clearances than control children with the same range of GFR.

Adolescent↗

Cystinosis.

This paper about cystinosis is focused primarily on nosology and genetic heterogeneity, the recurrent themes of these conferences. It briefly discusses cystinosis in relation to other disorders which cause the renal Fanconi syndrome with or without glomerular insufficiency, points out the methods for its reliable diagnosis, and then summarizes evidence suggesting that cystinosis should be classified as one of the lysosomal storage diseases. More extensive reviews of cystinosis are available.

Child↗

Lysosomal cystine counter-transport in heterozygotes for cystinosis.

Heterozygotes for cystinosis exhibited approximately half the normal rate of cystine counter-transport into isolated leukocyte lysosomes. This gene-dosage effect strongly supports previous findings demonstrating that the basic defect in cystinosis is impaired cystine transport across the lysosomal membrane. The method was used to determine the cystinosis carrier status for siblings of affected children in two families with cystinosis.

Biological Transport↗