Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) are a group of hereditary diseases that result in progressive loss of motor function in the lower limbs, and mutations in many different genes have been implicated in disease progression. One common feature of HSP is the progressive degradation of the axons of cortical motor neurons; however, it is not fully understood how mutations in is so many different genes result in axonal degradation. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Christian Hübner and colleagues at Jena University develop a mouse model of HSP by introducing a human-associated mutation into the gene encoding receptor accessory protein 1 (REEP1). Mice with this Reep1 mutation exhibited age-dependent loss of motor function and axonal degradation in the spinal cord. The authors revealed a role for REEP1 in maintaining the shape of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and changes in ER structure associated with Reep1 mutations might impair ER function. In the companion commentary, Ariel Deutch and colleagues at Vanderbilt University discuss how this new mouse model will be useful for understanding the how changes in ER morphology result in HSP-associated axon loss.
TITLE: A spastic paraplegia mouse model reveals REEP1-dependent ER shaping
AUTHOR CONTACT: Christian Hübner
University Hospital Jena, Jena, UNK, DEU
Phone: 0049-3641-935500; E-mail: christian.huebner@mti.uni-jena.de
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/65665?key=6124d84e73601c3e0262
ACCOMPANYING COMMENTARY
TITLE: REEPing the benefits of an animal model of hereditary spastic paraplegia
AUTHOR CONTACT: Ariel Deutch
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
Phone: (615) 327-7090.; E-mail: ariel.deutch@vanderbilt.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/72324?key=223c6fa57c73fcb47816
Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the kidney
Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) develops in response to the loss of acid secretion by α-intercalated cells in the kidney. The inability to remove acid from the body results in low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia), dehydration, and excess calcium in the urine (hypercalcemia), which leads to urinary stone formation. Recently, patients with dRTA have been identified with genetic mutations that lead to the inactivation of proton pumps found in β-intercalated cells, which have been thought to be responsible for base-secretion in the kidney. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Régine Chambrey and colleagues at INSERM used a mouse model of dRTA to demonstrate that genetic loss of a proton pump in β-intercalated cells results in increased levels of prostaglandin E2 in urine, which promotes hypokalemia and hypercalcemia. Furthermore, pharmacologic inactivation of the proton pump in β-intercalated cells also resulted in increased prostaglandin E2 production and dRTA-like symptom development. In the accompanying commentary, Thomas Kleyman and colleagues at University of Pittsburg highlight how this study and others have changed the traditional view on the function of different kidney cell populations in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance.
TITLE: Renal β-intercalated cells maintain body fluid and electrolyte balance
AUTHOR CONTACT: Regine Chambrey
INSERM UMR 970, Paris, , FRA
Phone: +33 1 56 98 81 17; E-mail: regine.chambrey@crc.jussieu.fr
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/63492?key=7d287ab5b2717db7b4c5
ACCOMPANYING COMMENTARY
TITLE: Opening lines of communication in the distal nephron
AUTHOR CONTACT: Thomas Kleyman
Renal-Electrolyte Division, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Phone: 412 647-3121; Fax: 412 648-9166; E-mail: kleyman@pitt.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/71944?key=9d13e469b19142da5bb9
Development of autoimmunity in patients with common variable immune deficiency
Common variable immune deficiency (CVID) is a genetic disease associated with enhanced susceptibility to infection, autoimmunity, and decreased antibody production. Mutations in the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member TACI, are associated with CVID and autoimmunity development. Interestingly, autoimmunity develops in CVID patients with only one mutated copy of TACI, and CVID patients with two mutated TACI alleles do not develop autoimmunity. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Eric Meffre and colleagues at Yale University evaluated B cell activation and tolerance development in healthy individuals and CVID patients with one or two mutated copies of TACI. The authors found that CVID patients with a single altered TACI allele maintained some residual B cell responsiveness that promoted development of autoantibodies, whereas individuals with 2 mutated copies of TACI have complete impairment of B cell responses, which likely prevents autoimmunity. In the companion commentary, Antonia La Cava of the University of California Los Angeles suggests that targeting residual B cell activity in CVID patients that are heterozygous for TACI mutations may provide clinical relief.
TITLE: CVID-associated TACI mutations affect autoreactive B cell selection and activation
AUTHOR CONTACT: Eric Meffre
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
Phone: 1-203-737-4535; Fax: 1-203-785-7903; E-mail: eric.meffre@yale.edu
View this article at
http://www.jci.org/articles/view/69854?key=6b28b9a1ced274a85616
ACCOMPANYING COMMENTARY
TITLE: Common variable immunodeficiency: two mutations are better than one
AUTHOR CONTACT: Antonio La Cava
University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Phone: 310-267-4975; Fax: 310 206-8606; E-mail: alacava@mednet.ucla.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/72476?key=89e682357107d9fc0553
A link between zinc transport and diabetes
Individuals with a mutation in the gene encoding a zinc transporter, SLC30A8 have an elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Insulin granules that are released from pancreatic β cells contain high levels of zinc; however, it is not clear why individuals with mutations in the SLC30A8 zinc transporter gene are predisposed to type 2 diabetes. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Yoshio Fujitani and colleagues at Juntendo University investigated the role of zinc transport by SLC30A8 in β cells. They found that this zinc transporter is required for insulin clearance by the liver and secreted zinc signals to β cells to stop releasing insulin. In the accompanying commentary, Alan Attie and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison discuss the dynamic regulatory role of zinc in insulin regulation.
TITLE: The diabetes-susceptible gene SLC30A8/ZnT8 regulates hepatic insulin clearance
AUTHOR CONTACT: Yoshio Fujitani
Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, , JPN
Phone: 81-3-5802-1579; E-mail: fujitani@juntendo.ac.jp
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/68807?key=c328bd5acca78929b0ab
ACCOMPANYING COMMENTARY
TITLE: Zinc, insulin, and the liver: a ménage à trois
AUTHOR CONTACT: Alan Attie
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Phone: 608-262-1372; E-mail: attie@biochem.wisc.edu
View this article at:
http://www.jci.org/articles/view/72325?key=8c16085ee64c1191f081
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
TITLE:
Dendritic epidermal T cells regulate skin antimicrobial barrier function
AUTHOR CONTACT: Wendy Havran
Department Of Immunology IMM8, La Jolla, CA, USA
Phone: 858-784-2742; Fax: 858-784-8179; E-mail: havran@scripps.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/70064?key=ebed9aa7cbb631dea5c6
TITLE: A SALL4/MLL/HOXA9 pathway in murine and human myeloid leukemogenesis
AUTHOR CONTACT: Ailing Li
Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Phone: 617-525-4418; E-mail: ALI9@PARTNERS.ORG
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/62891?key=e379a32d4bc824525d77
TITLE: Glucagon regulates gluconeogenesis through KAT2B and WDR5 mediated epigenetic effects
AUTHOR CONTACT: Marc Montminy
The Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
Phone: 858-453-4100 x1394; Fax: 858-552-1546; E-mail: montminy@salk.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/69035?key=6e115c753ce0d6e44bea
TITLE: Disruption of CEP290 microtubule/membrane binding domains causes retinal degeneration
AUTHOR CONTACT: Jean Bennett
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Phone: 215-898-0915; Fax: 215-573-7155; E-mail: jebennet@mail.med.upenn.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/69448?key=651bc9c66edf7732b134
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