From protein uptake to Dent disease: an overview of the CLCN5 gene

Proteinuria is a well-known risk factor, not only for renal disorders, but also for several other problems such as cardiovascular diseases and overall mortality. In the kidney, the chloride channel Cl(−)/H(+) exchanger C1C-5 encoded by the CLCN5 gene is actively involved in preventing protein loss. This action becomes evident in patients suffering from the rare proximal tubulopathy Dent disease because they carry a defective C1C-5 due to CLCN5 mutations. In fact, proteinuria is the distinctive clinical sign of Dent disease, and mainly involves the loss of low-molecular-weight proteins. The identification of CLCN5 disease-causing mutations has greatly improved our understanding of C1C-5 function and of the ClC-5-related physiological processes in the kidney. This review outlines current knowledge regarding the CLCN5 gene and its protein product, providing an update on C1C-5 function in tubular and glomerular cells, and focusing on its relationship with proteinuria and Dent disease.