Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease and complex nephronophtisis medullary cystic disease

Reseach during the past decade has led to the discovery that defects in some proteins that localize to primary cilia or the basal body are the main contributors to renal cyst development. Autosomal recessive polycystic disease and nephronophthisis-medullary cystic kidney disease are named ciliopathies. The cilium is a microtubule-based organelle that is found on most mammalian cells. Cilia-mediated hypothesis has evolved into the concept of cystogenesis, cilia bend by fluid initiate a calcium influx that prevents cyst formation. Cilia might sense stimuli in the cell enviroment and control cell polarity and mitosis. A new set of pathogenic mechanisms in renal cystic disease defined new therapeutic targets, control of intracellular calcium, inhibition of cAMP and down regulation cannonical Wnt signaling.