Hereditary kidney diseases associated with hypomagnesemia

In the kidney, a set of proteins expressed in the epithelial cells of the thick ascending loop of Henle and the distal convoluted tubule directly or indirectly play important roles in the regulation of serum magnesium levels. Magnesium reabsorption in the thick ascending loop of Henle occurs through a passive paracellular pathway, while in the distal convoluted tubule, the final magnesium concentration is established through an active transcellular pathway. The players involved in magnesium reabsorption include proteins with diverse functions including tight junction proteins, cation and anion channels, sodium chloride cotransporter, calcium-sensing receptor, epidermal growth factor, cyclin M2, sodium potassium adenosine triphosphatase subunits, transcription factors, a serine protease, and proteins involved in mitochondrial function. Mutations in the genes that encode these proteins impair their function and cause different rare diseases associated with hypomagnesemia, which may lead to muscle cramps, fatigue, epileptic seizures, intellectual disability, cardiac arrhythmias, and chronic kidney disease. The purpose of this review is to describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of these hereditary kidney diseases and the current research findings on the pathophysiological basis of these diseases.

Genome-Wide Analysis Studies and Chronic Kidney Disease

In recent years, the very high worldwide prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has led some authors to talk of an "epidemic." The progression of CKD varies considerably among individuals despite similar aetiologies, optimal blood pressure, and glycaemic control. Over the last decade, through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), more than 50 genetic loci have been identified in association with CKD. Understanding the genetic basis of CKD could provide a better knowledge of the biology of the involved pathways, thus potentially leading to novel tools for the diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of CKD. In this review, we will analyse the role of GWAS in the study of CKD.