Open AccessControversies concerning the importance of genetic polymorphism in IgA nephropathy
Author(s) -
Luc Frimat,
Michèle Kessler
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
nephrology, dialysis, transplantation/nephrology dialysis transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.654
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1460-2385
pISSN - 0931-0509
DOI - 10.1093/ndt/17.4.542
Subject(s) - medicine , nephropathy , polymorphism (computer science) , immunology , genetics , genotype , gene , endocrinology , biology , diabetes mellitus
In a recent letter to Nature Genetics, Gharavi and colleagues reported a study of 30 multiplex kindreds, demonstrating the linkage of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) to 6q22-23 w1x. This finding is a considerable step towards a comprehensive explanation of this form of chronic glomerulonephritis. As previously suggested, genetic studies of familial IgAN provide the best way to identify IgAN genes w2x. Following this approach, the number of publications on genetic polymorphism underlying IgAN grew rapidly in the 1990s. For example, in 1996, in this journal, significant results of the first studies showing an association between a genetic polymorphism of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and IgAN were met with great enthusiasm w3x. A few years later, reports of negative findings with respect to this association tempered this initial impression w2,4,5x. Some authors were even unable to confirm their own results w5,6x. We propose here a reappraisal of the background implications and methodological foundations of existing research into IgAN, which might be an important source of conflicting results.