Investigating Cyst Initiation and Growth in Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is an inherited disorder where fluid filled sacs, called cysts, develop primarily in the kidney. Over time, this causes the kidney to enlarge and lose function. PKD varies in severity and is caused by abnormal genes. This thesis discovered that removing a gene known as Aurka Kinase A in conjunction with the abnormal PKD genes can improve this disease in mice, therefore identifying it as a contributor to this condition. This thesis further demonstrated that modulating the immune response can also lessen disease severity. Overall, this thesis identifies two potential future therapeutic interventions for PKD.