Repurposing calcium-sensing receptor activator drug cinacalcet for ADPKD treatment

ADPKD is characterized by progressive cyst formation and enlargement leading to kidney failure. Tolvaptan is currently the only FDA-approved treatment for ADPKD; however, it can cause serious adverse effects including hepatotoxicity. There remains an unmet clinical need for effective and safe treatments for ADPKD. The extracellular Ca²⁺-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a regulator of epithelial ion transport. FDA-approved CaSR activator cinacalcet can reduce cAMP-induced Cl^- and fluid secretion in various epithelial cells by activating phosphodiesterases (PDE) that hydrolyze cAMP. Since elevated cAMP is a key mechanism of ADPKD progression by promoting cell proliferation, cyst formation and enlargement (via Cl^- and fluid secretion), here we tested efficacy of cinacalcet in cell and animal models of ADPKD. Cinacalcet treatment reduced cAMP-induced Cl^- secretion and CFTR activity in MDCK cells as suggested by ∼70 % lower short-circuit current (I_sc) changes in response to forskolin and CFTR_inh-172, respectively. Cinacalcet treatment inhibited forskolin-induced cAMP elevation by 60 % in MDCK cells, and its effect was completely reversed by IBMX (PDE inhibitor). In MDCK cells treated with forskolin, cinacalcet treatment concentration-dependently reduced cell proliferation, cyst formation and cyst enlargement by up to 50 % without affecting cell viability. Cinacalcet treatment (20 mg/kg/day for 7 days, subcutaneous) reduced renal cyst index in a mouse model of ADPKD (Pkd1^flox/flox;Ksp-Cre) by 20 %. Lastly, cinacalcet treatment reduced cyst enlargement and cell proliferation in human ADPKD cells by 60 %. Considering its efficacy as shown here, and favorable safety profile including extensive post-approval data, cinacalcet can be repurposed as a novel ADPKD treatment.