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Vesicoureteric reflux and reflux nephropathy: from mouse models to childhood disease

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Abstract

Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is a common congenital urinary tract defect that predisposes children to recurrent kidney infections. Kidney infections can result in renal scarring or reflux nephropathy defined by the presence of chronic tubulo-interstitial inflammation and fibrosis that is a frequent cause of end-stage renal failure. The discovery of mouse models with VUR and with reflux nephropathy has provided new opportunities to understand the pathogenesis of these conditions and may provide insight on the genes and the associated phenotypes that need to be examined in human studies.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research to IRG. IRG holds a scholarship award from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Marie-Lyne Fillion, Christine L. Watt & Indra R. Gupta

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, Montreal Children’s Hospital–McGill University, 2300, rue Tupper—E222, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3H 1P3

    Indra R. Gupta

  3. Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Indra R. Gupta

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  1. Marie-Lyne Fillion
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Correspondence to Indra R. Gupta.

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Fillion, ML., Watt, C.L. & Gupta, I.R. Vesicoureteric reflux and reflux nephropathy: from mouse models to childhood disease. Pediatr Nephrol 29, 757–766 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-014-2761-3

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