Kids Kidney Research

Galectin-3 is a naturally occurring protein involved in several cellular processes, including cell division and death, and the way cells stick to each other. Increased galectin-3 levels occur in cystic kidneys, which are important causes of kidney failure. There is currently no corrective therapy for cystic kidneys and severely affected individuals often need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Functions of galectin-3 in cyst development are unknown, but it has been observed that galectin-3 reduces cyst growth in mice that have an inherited form of cystic kidneys that replicates the type most often seen in children with severe disease, which is called polycystic kidney disease.

Based on this, it is predicted that increased galectin-3 is an attempt by the body to prevent, or at least restrict, cyst formation in the kidney. Here, it will be investigated whether galectin-3 has the same effects in other strains of mice with polycystic kidney disease and test whether treatment with galectin-3 reduces cyst formation. In addition, it is hoped that other factors that interact with galectin-3 to influence cyst formation will be identified.

If successful, this study may provide the impetus to develop novel, galectin-3 based therapies to treat humans with polycystic kidney disease in future.