Role of Bim and apoptosis in the development of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) (C03)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 246781735

Mice deficient of the survival factor Bcl-2 develop polycystic kidney disease (PKD) that is mediated via the pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein Bim, but how apoptosis contributes to the disease is unknown. Moreover, it has been unclear if other BH3-only proteins such as Puma participate in the process and if apoptosis is also crucial for the emergence of the slowly progressing, late-onset autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in humans caused by mutations in the polycystin-1 gene Pkd1. In this proposal we will use mice lacking Bci-2 or Pkd1 (kidney specific or induced) and isolated kidney cells of these mice to determine if and how Bim and/or Puma contribute to cystogenesis and PKD.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1140: Kidney Disease - from Genes to Mechanisms (KIDGEM)
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Christoph Borner