Renal cysts in transgenic mice expressing transforming growth factor-alpha

Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of proteins and, like EGF, elicits its cellular function by binding to the EGF receptor. EGF stimulation may have a role in several normal and pathologic processes in the kidney, and EGF has been implicated in the development of renal cysts in vitro and in human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. We sought to determine whether renal expression of an EGF-like protein (TGF-alpha) could lead to the formation of renal cysts in vivo. We examined morphologic alterations to the normal kidney caused by renal expression of a TGF-alpha transgene linked to a mouse metallothionein promoter stably integrated into the genome of the CD1 mouse. TGF-alpha transgene expression was induced with exogenous zinc treatment starting at 4 weeks of age, and mice were killed at 8 weeks of age. The transgene was expressed at higher levels in female transgenic mice than in male transgenic mice. The augmented expression of the TGF-alpha transgene in females was associated with increased renal size and the development of renal epithelial cysts. Both male and female mice exhibited increases in glomerular size and mesangial volume density. These results provide evidence that stimulation by an endogenous EGF-like protein can lead to renal enlargement, glomerular mesangial expansion, and renal cyst formation.