摘要 |
<p>In order to determine epigenetic variations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and functional association therebetween, the present inventors have subjected individuals with polycystic kidney disease and without polycystic kidney disease to analysis through methylation profiling in random fashion of the genome as a whole. Interestingly, in PKD1 and other genes associated with ion transport and cell adhesion, there was hypermethylation in the gene-body region, and the expression of these genes was down-regulated in polycystic kidney disease. In particular, in PKD1, there was hypermethylation in the polycystic kidney disease gene-body region, and this was associated with MBD2 (methyl-CpG-binding domain 2) protein binding. In addition, DNA methylation inhibitor treatment was accompanied by up-regulation of PKD1 expression and caused a delay in cyst formation in MDCK (Madin-Darby Canine Kidney) cells. This therefore demonstrates that, in the present invention, hypermethylation of PKD1 and regulator genes associated with cyst formation plays a decisive role in cyst formation and shows that the present invention can be used in therapeutic applications for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.</p> |