PATHOGENESIS OF AUTOSOMAL-DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY-DISEASE - ROLE OF APOPTOSIS

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common monog enic disorder with progressive distension of multiple tubular segments , and is manifested by fluid accumulation, growth of epithelial cells, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix, ultimately resulting in r enal insufficiency in one half of affected individuals. The process ca using the progressive loss of renal tissue is unclear. Recent studies demonstrate that apoptosis is one of the major histopathologic feature s of ADPKD and may be causally related to the progressive deterioratio n of the renal function in this population. Further studies are requir ed to elucidate the mechanisms by which some cysts upregulate the proc ess of programmed cell death in the kidney.