An extensive body of in vitro data implicates epithelial chloride secretion
, mediated through cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFT
R) protein, in generating or maintaining fluid filled cysts in MDCK cells a
nd in human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). In contra
st, few studies have addressed the pathophysiology of fluid secretion in cy
st formation and enlargement in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disea
se (ARPKD). Murine models of targeted disruptions or deletions of specific
genes have created opportunities to examine the role of individual gene pro
ducts in normal development and/or disease pathophysiology. The creation of
a murine model of CF, which lacks functional CFTR protein, provides the op
portunity to determine whether CFTR activity is required for renal cyst for
mation in vivo. Therefore, this study sought to determine whether renal cys
t formation could be prevented by genetic complementation of the BPK murine
model of ARPKD with the CFTR knockout mouse. The results of this study rev
eal that in animals that are homozygous for the cystic gene (bpk), the lack
of functional CFTR protein on the apical surface of cystic epithelium does
not provide protection against cyst growth and subsequent decline in renal
function. Double mutant mice (bpk -/-; cftr -/-) developed massively enlar
ged kidneys and died, on average, 7 d earlier than cystic, non-CF mice (bpk
-/-; cftr +/+/-). This suggests fundamental differences in the mechanisms
of transtubular fluid secretion in animal models of ARPKD compared with ADP
KD.