Parallel microarray profiling identifies ErbB4 as a determinant of cyst growth in ADPKD and a prognostic biomarker for disease progression

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is the fourth most common cause of end-stage renal disease. The disease course can be highly variable and treatment options are limited. To identify new therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers of disease, we conducted parallel discovery microarray profiling in normal and diseased human PKD1 cystic kidney cells. A total of 1515 genes and 5 miRNA were differentially expressed by more than two-fold in PKD1 cells. Functional enrichment analysis identified 30 dysregulated signalling pathways including the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor pathway. In this paper, we report that the EGF family receptor, ErbB4, is a major factor driving cyst growth in ADPKD. Expression of ErbB4 in vivo was increased in human ADPKD and Pkd1 cystic kidneys, both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally by mir-193b-3p. Ligand-induced activation of ErbB4 drives cystic proliferation and expansion suggesting a pathogenic role in cystogenesis. Our results implicate ErbB4 activation as functionally relevant in ADPKD, both as a marker of disease activity and as a new therapeutic target in this major kidney disease.