A Drosophila Model Identifies a Critical Role for Zinc in Mineralization for Kidney Stone Disease

作者：Chi Thomas; Kim Man Su; Lang Sven; Bose Neelanjan; Kahn Arnold; Flechner Lawrence; Blaschko Sarah D; Zee Tiffany; Muteliefu Gulinuer; Bond Nichole; Kolipinski Marysia; Fakra Sirine C; Mandel Neil; Miller Joe; Ramanathan Arvind; Killilea David W; Brueckner Katja; Kapahi Pankaj^*; Stoller Marshall L

来源：PLos One, 2015, 10(5): e0124150.

DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0124150

Ectopic calcification is a driving force for a variety of diseases, including kidney stones and atherosclerosis, but initiating factors remain largely unknown. Given its importance in seemingly divergent disease processes, identifying fundamental principal actors for ectopic calcification may have broad translational significance. Here we establish a Drosophila melanogaster model for ectopic calcification by inhibiting xanthine dehydrogenase whose deficiency leads to kidney stones in humans and dogs. Micro X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (mu XANES) synchrotron analyses revealed high enrichment of zinc in the Drosophila equivalent of kidney stones, which was also observed in human kidney stones and Randall's plaques (early calcifications seen in human kidneys thought to be the precursor for renal stones). To further test the role of zinc in driving mineralization, we inhibited zinc transporter genes in the ZnT family and observed suppression of Drosophila stone formation. Taken together, genetic, dietary, and pharmacologic interventions to lower zinc confirm a critical role for zinc in driving the process of heterogeneous nucleation that eventually leads to stone formation. Our findings open a novel perspective on the etiology of urinary stones and related diseases, which may lead to the identification of new preventive and therapeutic approaches.

• 出版日期2015-5-13