Loss of cilia suppresses cyst growth in genetic models of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Ming Ma, Xin Tian, Peter Igarashi, Gregory J. Pazour, Stefan Somlo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

246 Scopus citations

Abstract

Kidney cysts occur following inactivation of polycystins in otherwise intact cilia or following complete removal of cilia by inactivation of intraflagellar transport-related proteins. We investigated the mechanisms of cyst formation in these two distinct processes by combining conditional inactivation of polycystins with concomitant ablation of cilia in developing and adult kidney and liver. We found that loss of intact cilia suppressed cyst growth following inactivation of polycystins and that the severity of cystic disease was directly related to the length of time between the initial loss of the polycystin proteins and the subsequent involution of cilia. This cilia-dependent cyst growth was not explained by activation of the MAPK/ERK, mTOR or cAMP pathways and is likely to be distinct from the mechanism of cyst growth following complete loss of cilia. These data establish the existence of a new pathway defined by polycystin-dependent inhibition and cilia-dependent activation that promotes rapid cyst growth.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1004-1012
Number of pages9
JournalNature genetics
Volume45
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Loss of cilia suppresses cyst growth in genetic models of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this