title: The Role of PEC Progenitors in ADPKD Progression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is a pathology mainly characterized by the progressive development and enlargement of cysts in each kidneys. Such as many adult epithelial tissue, renal tubule replaces damaged or death cells through the presence of stem/progenitor cells CD133(+)CD24(+) Obviously, in ADPKD the repair of damages is insufficient to block the disease, but renal stem cells could have a role in the pathology. In this study we investigate the localization and the involvement of cells CD133(+)CD24(+) in ADPKD progression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two normal kidneys and two ADPKD kidneys were examined. CD133 and CD24 expression was investigated by confocal microscopy and immunoblotting. Renal tissue and cells were analyzed. CD133 and CD24 have the same localization in ADPKD tissues and in normal kidneys: a subset of epithelial cells (PEC) of Bowman' s capsule and luminal side of tubules. It is interesting that CD133(+) CD24(+) cells are statistically more represented in ADPKD tubules (p＜ 0.001) and in healthy glomeruli (p= 0.0016). Cysts express CD133 and CD24.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Renal epithelial progenitors demonstrate to be involved in ADPKD pathogenesis but their role will have to be clarified and possibly managed to obtain improvement, or at least stabilization, of disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Modena Polyclinic, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lodi
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ligabue
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lupo
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavazzini
keywords: ADPKD; CD133; Damage repair; Stem cells; kidney