Is There a Role of ADAMTS-1 in Cyst Development in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease?

Objective: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most commonly inherited kidney disease. It is characterized by the development of multiple bilateral cysts that cause enlargement of the kidney. The underlying mechanisms related with renal cyst development in ADPKD have been tried to be explained by cellular hyperproliferation, epithelial fluid secretion, and extracellular matrix remodeling. All cystic disorders have some extracellular matrix abnormalities, but data about this step are limited in the literature. We investigated blood and urine levels of A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin motifs 1 (ADAMTS-1) in patients with ADPKD to evaluate the possible role of ADAMTS-1 in cyst development.

Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted in a training and research hospital. A total of 58 patients with ADPKD and 29 healthy volunteers were recruited. Serum and urine ADAMTS-1 levels were determined using a human enzyme-linked immunoassay in all subjects. 

Results: The serum ADAMTS-1 concentrations were lower in the ADPKD group than in the controls, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.653). The urine ADAMTS-1 levels were also not statistically different between the groups (p=0.921).

Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate the role of ADAMTS in kidney disease in humans. In contrast to animal studies, the role of ADAMTS-1 in the extracellular matrix remodeling phase of cyst development is not apparent. Further detailed studies are needed on the possible role of other ADAMTS family members in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix in ADPKD.

Cite this article as: Karaköse S, Özkan Kurtgöz P, Deniz ÇD, Erkuş E, Güney İ. Is There a Role of ADAMTS-1 in Cyst Development in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease? Turk J Nephrol 2021; 30(1): 25-9.