Conditional mutation of Pkd2 causes cystogenesis and upregulates beta-catenin

J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Dec;20(12):2556-69. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2009030271. Epub 2009 Nov 25.

Abstract

Loss of polycystin-2 (PC2) in mice (Pkd2(-/-)) results in total body edema, focal hemorrhage, structural cardiac defects, abnormal left-right axis, hepatorenal and pancreatic cysts, and embryonic lethality. The molecular mechanisms by which loss of PC2 leads to these phenotypes remain unknown. We generated a model to allow targeted Pkd2 inactivation using the Cre-loxP system. Global inactivation of Pkd2 produced a phenotype identical to Pkd2(-/-) mice with undetectable PC2 protein and perinatal lethality. Using various Cre mouse lines, we found that kidney, pancreas, or time-specific deletion of Pkd2 led to cyst formation. In addition, we developed an immortalized renal collecting duct cell line with inactive Pkd2; these cells had aberrant cell-cell contact, ciliogenesis, and tubulomorphogenesis. They also significantly upregulated beta-catenin, axin2, and cMyc. Our results suggest that loss of PC2 disrupts normal behavior of renal epithelial cells through dysregulation of beta-catenin-dependent signaling, revealing a potential role for this signaling pathway in PC2-associated ADPKD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cysts / genetics
  • Cysts / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Kidney Tubules, Collecting / abnormalities
  • Kidney Tubules, Collecting / metabolism
  • Kidney Tubules, Collecting / pathology
  • Liver Diseases / genetics
  • Liver Diseases / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Congenic
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mutation*
  • Pancreatic Diseases / genetics
  • Pancreatic Diseases / pathology
  • Phenotype
  • Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant / etiology
  • Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant / genetics*
  • Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant / metabolism
  • Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Signal Transduction
  • TRPP Cation Channels / deficiency
  • TRPP Cation Channels / genetics*
  • TRPP Cation Channels / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • TRPP Cation Channels
  • beta Catenin
  • polycystic kidney disease 2 protein