Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) was discovered to disturb the connection between polycystin-2 and the plasma membrane by induction of the scaffold protein FIP2, as scientists from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research (USA) report. TNF-α is an inflammatory cytokine, found in the cystic fluid of humans suffering from autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The disease is caused by heterozygous mutations of the polycystin-1 (PKD1) or polycystin-2 genes (PKD2).

The scientists treated murine organ cultures of embryonic kidneys with TNF-α. The treatment caused cyst formation, even more severely in Pkd2+/- kidneys. TNF-α stimulated cyst formation could also be observed in vivo in Pkd2+/- mice. If treated with the TNF-α inhibitor etanercept, mice did not form any cysts.

The study points at a connection between TNF-α signalling, polycystins and the formation of cysts. The activation of this presumed pathway might reduce the production of polycystin-2 below a critical threshold and thus lead to the manifestation of ADPKD.

Related antibodies on antibodies-online.com:

PKD2

TNF-α

FIP2

PKD1L2

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