The present studies aim to examine whether and how cilia function (Pkd1 or Pkd2) and structure (Tg737) play a role in cystic kidney and aneurysm through survivin downregulation.
In the primary cilium, TRPP2 has been suggested to function as a mechanosensitive channel that detects fluid flow in the renal tubule lumen, supporting the proposed role of the primary cilium as the unifying pathogenic concept for cystic kidney disease.
Renal cystic disease in homo- and heterozygotes of a Pkd2 mouse model with a disrupted exon 1 inserted in tandem with the normal exon (and prone to somatic recombination, which inactivates the gene) supports a role for somatic events in cystogenesis.