WD40-repeat proteins and gout

期刊連結：http://www.gouthyperuricemia.org
Purpose: Despite progress in understanding the genetics of hyperuricemia, many unanswered questions still remain about the genetic factors besides hyperuricemia that determine the development of gout. WD40-repeat (WDR) proteins are implicated in a variety of biologic functions including signal transduction, transcription regulation, apoptosis and etc. Whether this family is involved in the development of gout warrants further investigation.
Findings: Genetic variation in WDR1 was initially found to be associated with gout in the Han Chinese population in northern China. WDR77 is a novel androgen receptor cofactor that plays an important role in enhancing androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional activity in prostate cancer, which was prevalent in gout. Ubiquitin specific peptidase 12 (Usp12)/ Usp1-associated factor 1 (Uaf-1)/WDR20 complex plays a critical role in AR regulation. WDFY4 are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and could potentially be involved in gouty arthritis.
Conclusion: WDR proteins family consists of 277 proteins. What we know is very limited at present. In the future, studies about WDR proteins may provide a novel understanding for the mechanisms of gout.