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Impaired urinary osteopontin excretion in Npt2a-/- mice

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Renal Physiology

Published online on

Abstract

Mutations in the renal sodium-dependent phosphate co-transporters NPT2a and NPT2c have been reported in patients with renal stone disease and nephrocalcinosis. Oral phosphate supplementation is currently thought to reduce risk by reversing the hypercalciuria, but the exact mechanism remains unclear and the relative contribution of modifiers of mineralization such as osteopontin (Opn) to the formation of renal mineral deposits in renal phosphate wasting disorders has not been studied. We observed a marked decrease of renal gene expression and urinary excretion of Opn in Npt2a-/- mice, a mouse model of these disorders, at baseline. Following supplementation with phosphate Opn gene expression was restored to WT levels in Npt2a-/- mice, however, urine excretion of the protein remained low. To further investigate the role of Opn we used a double-knockout strategy, which provides evidence that loss of Opn worsens the nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis observed in these mice on high phosphate diet. These studies suggest that impaired Opn gene expression and urinary excretion in Npt2a-/- mice may be an additional risk factor for nephrolithiasis, and normalizing urine Opn levels may improve the therapy of phosphaturic disorders.