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Polycystic kidney disease

Cilia and mechanosensation revisited

Polycystic Kidney disease (PKD) is caused by mutations in genes that affect cilia structure and composition. Impaired mechanosensation through primary cilia has been proposed as a pathogenic mechanism in PKD; however, a new study challenges this hypothesis by showing an absence of mechanically induced Ca2+ increases in primary cilia.

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Figure 1: Model of mechanosensation through primary cilia.

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Acknowledgements

M.K. is supported by the German Research Foundation (CRU 201, CRC 1140, CRC/TRR 152).

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Correspondence to Michael Köttgen.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Hofherr, A., Köttgen, M. Cilia and mechanosensation revisited. Nat Rev Nephrol 12, 318–319 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2016.61

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