Characterization of the Nrf2 Response in Patients With Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)

Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) concentration is a major determinant of cellular fate and is finely regulated by the cell's antioxidant systems. While low levels of ROS are required for pro-survival signaling, cell proliferation, growth, and energy metabolism, the excess of ROS or oxidative stress leads to inflammation, cell death, and disease/injury progression. Indeed, oxidative stress is commonly observed in several renal diseases including ADPKD. On the other hand, a surplus of antioxidants will not only neutralize ROS, but may result in the antithesis of oxidative stress, which is known as reductive stress. The Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that integrates cellular stress signals and responds by regulating the expression of several antioxidant proteins. Activation of the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant defense pathway enhances ROS detoxification, conferring a more reduced intracellular environment that can promote cell survival and proliferation, a distinctive feature in ADPKD that underlies cyst formation and enlargement. Therefore, a better characterization of ROS levels and antioxidant response in ADPKD patients would allow development of more specific and effective therapies, while providing additional related biomarkers.

The investigators broad objective is to characterize oxidative stress and the Nrf2 antioxidant response in early stages of ADPKD, while identifying candidate biomarkers.

Participants in this study will have a blood and a urine sample collected to determine biomarkers of oxidative status and antioxidant response to study redox balance at early stages of the disease. In addition, an abdominal MRI will be performed to determine patient's total kidney volume (TKV).