Pkd1 transgenic mice: adult model of polycystic kidney disease with extrarenal and renal phenotypes

A Kurbegovic, O Côté, M Couillard… - Human molecular …, 2010 - academic.oup.com
A Kurbegovic, O Côté, M Couillard, CJ Ward, PC Harris, M Trudel
Human molecular genetics, 2010academic.oup.com
While high levels of Pkd1 expression are detected in tissues of patients with autosomal
dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), it is unclear whether enhanced expression
could be a pathogenetic mechanism for this systemic disorder. Three transgenic mouse
lines were generated from a Pkd1-BAC modified by introducing a silent tag via homologous
recombination to target a sustained wild-type genomic Pkd1 expression within the native
tissue and temporal regulation. These mice specifically overexpressed the Pkd1 transgene …
While high levels of Pkd1 expression are detected in tissues of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), it is unclear whether enhanced expression could be a pathogenetic mechanism for this systemic disorder. Three transgenic mouse lines were generated from a Pkd1-BAC modified by introducing a silent tag via homologous recombination to target a sustained wild-type genomic Pkd1 expression within the native tissue and temporal regulation. These mice specifically overexpressed the Pkd1 transgene in extrarenal and renal tissues from ∼2- to 15-fold over Pkd1 endogenous levels in a copy-dependent manner. All transgenic mice reproducibly developed tubular and glomerular cysts leading to renal insufficiency. Interestingly, Pkd1TAG mice also exhibited renal fibrosis and calcium deposits in papilla reminiscent of nephrolithiasis as frequently observed in ADPKD. Similar to human ADPKD, these mice consistently displayed hepatic fibrosis and ∼15% intrahepatic cysts of the bile ducts affecting females preferentially. Moreover, a significant proportion of mice developed cardiac anomalies with severe left-ventricular hypertrophy, marked aortic arch distention and/or valvular stenosis and calcification that had profound functional impact. Of significance, Pkd1TAG mice displayed occasional cerebral lesions with evidence of ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms. This Pkd1TAG mouse model demonstrates that overexpression of wild-type Pkd1 can trigger the typical adult renal and extrarenal phenotypes resembling human ADPKD.
Oxford University Press