Caffeine Accelerates Cystic Kidney Disease in a Pkd1-Deficient Mouse Model

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by progressive cyst formation and growth, leading to end-stage renal disease. A higher kidney volume is predictive of a more accelerated decline in renal function. This study aimed to examine the effects of caffeine, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on the progression of cystic kidney disease in a mouse model orthologous to human disease (Pkd1^cond/cond:Nestin^cre).

Caffeine was administered to male cystic (CyCaf) and noncystic (NCCaf) mice (Pkd1^cond/cond) from conception and at the postweaning period through 12 weeks of life (3 mg/d), while control animals consumed water (CyCtrl and NCCtrl). Renal ultrasonography was performed at 10 weeks of life to calculate total kidney volume and cystic index. At the end of the protocol, blood and urine samples were collected for biochemical analysis, and animals were euthanized. Kidneys were harvested to obtain renal tissue for determinations of adenosine 3´5´-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) by an enzymatic immunoassay kit and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) by Western blotting. Renal fibrosis (picrosirius staining), renal cell proliferation (ki-67 immunohistochemistry) and apoptotic rates (TUNEL analysis) were also determined.

At 12 weeks, CyCaf mice exhibited higher serum urea nitrogen, renal cystic index, total kidney volume, kidney cell proliferation, apoptosis and fibrosis compared with CyCtrl mice. Serum cystatin C was significantly higher in CyCaf than in NCCaf and NCCtrl mice. CyCaf mice had higher total kidney weight than all other groups but not higher heart and liver weight. The levels of cAMP and p-ERK did not differ among the groups.

Caffeine consumption from conception through 12 weeks led to increased cystic index and total kidney volume and worsened renal function in Pkd1-deficient cystic mice, suggesting that high consumption of caffeine may contribute to a faster progression of renal disease in ADPKD.