无赖氨酸激酶WNK4基因表达调控的研究进展

Progress of with no lysine kinase 4 on gene expression regulation

丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶WNK(with no lysine kinase)家族中,WNK4基因第7/17外显子突变可导致遗传性家族性高血压(familial hyperkalemic hypertension),临床主要表现为高血压和高血钾。此外,WNK4通过调节组织、器官的钠、钾、氯、钙等多个离子通道的表达和活性,参与维持机体水、电解质平衡和血压稳定。本文对WNK4的结构、分布、生物学功能以及基因表达调控机制作一综述。

In the serine/threonine protein kinase WNK(with no lysine kinase) family, the exon 7 or 17 mutation of WNK4 gene can lead to hereditary familial hyperkalemic hypertension, and the main clinical manifestations are hypertension and hyperkalemia. In addition, WNK4 is involved in maintaining the body’s water and electrolytes balance as well as blood pressure stability by regulating the expression and activities of many ion channels, such as sodium, potassium, chlorine and calcium, of tissues and organs. This review summarizes the structure, distribution, biological fuctions and gene expression mechanisms of WNK4.