Inhibition of pannexin‐1 does not restore electrolyte balance in precystic Pkd1 knockout mice

Mutations in PKD1 and PKD2 cause autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), which is characterized by the formation of fluid‐filled cysts in the kidney. In a subset of ADPKD patients, reduced blood calcium (Ca 2+ ) and magnesium (Mg 2+ ) concentrations are observed. As cystic fluid contains increased ATP concentrations and purinergic signaling reduces electrolyte reabsorption, we hypothesized that inhibiting ATP release could normalize blood Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ levels in ADPKD. Inducible kidney‐specific Pkd1 knockout mice (iKsp‐ Pkd1 −/− ) exhibit hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia in a precystic stage and show increased expression of the ATP‐release channel pannexin‐1. Therefore, we administered the pannexin‐1 inhibitor brilliant blue‐FCF (BB‐FCF) every other day from Day 3 to 28 post‐induction of Pkd1 gene inactivation. On Day 29, both serum Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ concentrations were reduced in iKsp‐ Pkd1 −/− mice, while urinary Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ excretion was similar between the genotypes. However, serum and urinary levels of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ were unaltered by BB‐FCF treatment, regardless of genotype. BB‐FCF did significantly decrease gene expression of the ion channels Trpm6 and Trpv5 in both control and iKsp‐ Pkd1 −/− mice. Finally, no renoprotective effects of BB‐FCF treatment were observed in iKsp‐ Pkd1 −/− mice. Thus, administration of BB‐FCF failed to normalize serum Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ levels.