Stowers Institute discovers possible cause of PKD

[donnia]

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/06/16/daily1.html


I hope this hasn't already been posted.. I just saw it today.


Researchers at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have discovered a possible cause of and treatment for the formation of cysts in one of the most common life-threatening genetic dieases, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney diseases.

The discovery, made by the investigator Rong Li's laboratory, was published Sunday in the advance online publication of Nature Medicine.

The research team showed that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a protein previously shown to play a role in inflammation, disrupts the product of a gene that mutates in victims of the disease, thus promoting the formation of cysts.

"We believe that this interaction could play a significant role in the transition from normal tubule development to the onset of polycystic kidney disease in individuals predisposed for the disease," Xiaogang Li, senior research associate in the Rong Li lab, said in a release.

Additionally, the team found that the drug etanercept, an inhibitor of TNF-α currently used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and a number of other conditions, prevents the formation of cysts in the kidneys of mice with ADPKD.

"This discovery is especially exciting because it not only provides insight about the origins of ADPKD, but it also points us toward a drug that we believe shows promise in preventing the development of cysts," Rong Li said in the release. "Of course, additional research will be required to test these preliminary results in animal models, but the potential is interesting."

Currently, no treatments are available to prevent or delay the onset of cysts in people living with polycystic kidney disease. Dialysis and kidney transplants often are required as the disease progresses.

The Stowers Institute conducts basic research into the causes of disease and other fundamental processes of cellular life in a 600,000-square-foot facility in Kanass City. The Institute was founded by Jim and Virginia Stowers, two cancer survivors who have created combined endowments of $2 billion to support the research efforts.

[pelagia]

And digging a little deeper, I learned that the work is being funded by the PKD Foundation:

http://www.stowers-institute.org/WhatsNew/pr2008/PR061608a.asp

I am really happy to learn that my "Walk for PKD" team is helping to raise funds for this sort of research!

[okarol]

It is wonderful to imagine finding a way to end PKD.

[donnia]

PKD is not the culprit of my kidney disease, but my eyes fill with tears at the thought of finding a cure and treatment for PKD.