PKD1 and PKD2 mRNA cis-inhibition drives polycystic kidney disease progression

Abstract

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), among the most common human genetic conditions and a frequent etiology of kidney failure, is primarily caused by heterozygous PKD1 mutations. Kidney cyst formation occurs when PKD1 dosage falls below a critical threshold. However, no framework exists to harness the remaining allele or reverse PKD1 decline. Here, we show that mRNAs produced by the noninactivated PKD1 allele are repressed via their 3′-UTR miR-17 binding element. Eliminating this motif (Pkd1∆17) improves mRNA stability, raises Polycystin-1 levels, and alleviates cyst growth in cellular, ex vivo, and mouse PKD models. Remarkably, Pkd2 is also inhibited via its 3′-UTR miR-17 motif, and Pkd2∆17-induced Polycystin-2 derepression retards cyst growth in Pkd1-mutant models. Moreover, acutely blocking Pkd1/2 cis-inhibition, including after cyst onset, attenuates murine PKD. Finally, modeling PKD1∆17 or PKD2∆17 alleles in patient-derived primary ADPKD cultures leads to smaller cysts, reduced proliferation, lower pCreb1 expression, and improved mitochondrial membrane potential. Thus, evading 3′-UTR cis-interference and enhancing PKD1/2 mRNA translation is a potentially mutation-agnostic ADPKD-arresting approach.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Aug 15, 2022
Source ID
10.1038/s41467-022-32543-2

Entities

People

  • Andrea Flaten
  • Chun-mien Chang
  • Darren P Wallace
  • Edmund C. Lee
  • Harini Ramalingam
  • Jesus Alvarez
  • Laurence Biggers
  • Patricia Cobo-Stark
  • Ronak Lakhia
  • Tania Valencia
  • Vishal Patel

Organizations

  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  • Regulus Therapeutics
  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Molecular Genetics
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology