The Hole Story

Polycystic kidney disease is a leading cause of dialysis and kidney transplants. The kidney contains narrow tubules that allow it to filter blood, reabsorb key nutrients or water and send waste for disposal. For individuals with polycystic kidney disease, the cells lining these tubes grow uncontrollably leading to fluid-filled cysts that destroy kidney function. Polycystic kidney disease remains incurable, but researchers may have identified a new focus for treatment; the JNK signalling pathway. At first, it may seem like a non-starter, as blocking JNK signals caused no structural differences (second from left) in the kidney compared to normal (left). But JNK has an accomplice; PKD2 – a protein that these patients lack. Without it, JNK is activated, causing clear disruption in kidney architecture (second from right). But by reducing JNK signals, the growth of the cysts slowed (far right) suggesting that finding ways to stop JNK signalling should be explored as a treatment option.

Written by Sophie Arthur

Sophie Arthur

former Science Communications Officer MRC LMS

Formerly a stem cell biologist, Sophie has since moved into science communication working at the MRC LMS. She also writes an award winning science and education blog Soph talks science.

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• Image from work by Abigail O. Smith and colleagues
• Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Biotech II, Worcester, MA, USA
• Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
• Published in PLOS Genetics, December 2021