Alterations of GSK3β / β-catenin are associated with the development of the glomerulocystic phenotype.

<p>Representative pictures of renal cortex from 30 (A, B) and 50 days old (C, D) mice. Ctr (A, C) and Dicer cKO (B, D) sections were stained with anti β-catenin antibody. In Dicer cKO, β-catenin expression is limited to the basolateral domain in both tubules and parietal cells of the Bowman’s capsule, at both P30 and P50 (B-D). (A-D) Magnification 63X, zoom1.5. Panel E and F show immunoblotting of Cortex/OSOM samples of 30 (E) and 50 (F) days old mice. GSK3β expression is already upregulated at the pre-cystic stage (P30) in Dicer cKO mice (E) and this is persistent at P50 (F). Glomerular cyst formation is associated with loss of cytosolic β-catenin expression and general downregulation of cortical protein level (F). No significant changes were observed in the fraction of their main regulating phosphorylated forms. Panel G represent qPCR analysis of mRNA of β-catenin in 30 (right) and 50 days old mice (left). mRNA level of β-catenin is downregulated in Dicer-cKO mice at P50. Data are expressed as mean ± sem; n power is 5 vs 5. * is for p value < 0.05; ** is for p-value <0.01.