Tight regulation of the rates of cell proliferation and apoptosis is critical for normal nephrogenesis. Nephrogenesis is profoundly affected by the loss of bcl-2 expression. Bcl-2-deficient (bcl-2 /) mice are born with renal hypoplasia and succumb to renal failure secondary to renal multicystic disease. Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions impact tissue architecture by modulating cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis. E-cadherin mediates calcium-dependent homotypic cell-cell interactions that are stabilized by its association with catenins and the actin cytoskeleton. The contribution of altered cell-cell interactions to renal cystic disease has not been delineated. Cystic kidneys from bcl-2 / mice displayed nuclear localization of -catenin and loss of apical brush border actin staining. The protein levels of -catenin, -catenin, actin, and E-cadherin were not altered in cystic kidneys compared with normal kidneys. Therefore, an altered distribution of -catenin and actin, in kidneys from bcl-2 / mice, may indicate improper cell-cell interactions interfering with renal maturation and contributing to renal cyst formation.

-catenin; adherens junctions; actin; renal multicystic disease

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