Genetics and pathogenesis of polycystic kidney disease

P Igarashi, S Somlo - Journal of the American Society of …, 2002 - journals.lww.com
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a common genetic cause of chronic renal failure in
children and adults, is characterized by the accumulation of fluid-filled cysts in the kidney
and other organs. The renal cysts originate from the epithelia of the nephrons and renal
collecting system and are lined by a single layer of cells that have higher rates of cellular
proliferation and are less differentiated than normal tubular cells (1). Abnormalities in gene
expression, cell polarity, fluid secretion, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix have also been …