Cystic kidney disease

Gene: NEK8

Comment on phenotypes: OMIM phenotype updated on 25th Feb 2026.

Created: 25 Feb 2026, 12:07 p.m. | Last Modified: 25 Feb 2026, 12:07 p.m.

Panel Version: 8.4

Green List (high evidence)

The rating of this gene has been updated to Green and the mode of inheritance set to 'MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, NOT imprinted' following NHS Genomic Medicine Service approval.

Created: 3 May 2024, 10:02 a.m. | Last Modified: 3 May 2024, 10:02 a.m.

Panel Version: 5.3

Mode of inheritance
MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, NOT imprinted

Green List (high evidence)

Comment on list classification: There is sufficient evidence available in support of the association of monoallelic NEK8 variants with polycystic kidney disease. Hence, this gene can be promoted to green rating in the next GMS review.

Created: 2 Jan 2024, 1:34 p.m. | Last Modified: 2 Jan 2024, 1:34 p.m.

Panel Version: 4.24

PMID:37598857 reported the identification of monoallelic NEK8 variants in 12 different families reported with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Of these, de novo missense variant p.Arg45Trp was found in 10 families and missense variants p.Ile150Met and p.Lys157Gln were found in one family each. Patient fibroblasts show normal ciliogenesis and normal localisation and expression of NEK8. Carriers of AR-NEK8 disease do not show renal manifestations, as variants are LOF and these variants are suspected of dominant negative effect.

PMID:18199800 reported one patient with biallelic NEK8 variant (p.His425Tyr) and with nephronophthisis. Nephronophthisis is an autosomal recessive kidney disease that leads to kidney cyst formation and progressive renal failure.

Although nephronophthisis 9 (MIM #613824) caused by biallelic variants is reported in both OMIM and Gene2Phenotype, cystic kidney disease caused by monoallelic variants are not yet reported in these resources.

Created: 2 Jan 2024, 1:20 p.m. | Last Modified: 2 Jan 2024, 1:31 p.m.

Panel Version: 4.22

Mode of inheritance
MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, NOT imprinted

Phenotypes
polycystic kidney disease, MONDO:0020642; ?Nephronophthisis 9, OMIM:613824

Publications

• 18199800
• 37598857

Mode of pathogenicity
Loss-of-function variants (as defined in pop up message) DO NOT cause this phenotype - please provide details in the comments

Green List (high evidence)

The authors describe: "Here we identify NEK8 as a disease gene for ADPKD in 12 families. Clinical evaluation was combined with functional studies using fibroblasts and tubuloids from affected individuals. Nek8 knockout mouse kidney epithelial (IMCD3) cells transfected with wild type or variant NEK8 were further used to study ciliogenesis, ciliary trafficking, kinase function, and DNA damage responses. Twenty-one affected monoallelic individuals uniformly exhibited cystic kidney disease (mostly neonatal) without consistent extra-kidney manifestations. Recurrent de novo mutations of the NEK8 missense variant p.Arg45Trp, including mosaicism, were seen in ten families. Missense variants elsewhere within the kinase domain (p.Ile150Met and p.Lys157Gln) were also identified. Functional studies demonstrated normal localization of the NEK8 protein to the proximal cilium and no consistent cilia formation defects in patient-derived cells. NEK8-wild type protein and all variant forms of the protein expressed in Nek8 knockout IMCD3 cells were localized to cilia and supported ciliogenesis. However, Nek8 knockout IMCD3 cells expressing NEK8-p.Arg45Trp and NEK8-p.Lys157Gln showed significantly decreased polycystin-2 but normal ANKS6 localization in cilia. Moreover, p.Arg45Trp NEK8 exhibited reduced kinase activity in vitro. In patient derived tubuloids and IMCD3 cells expressing NEK8-p.Arg45Trp, DNA damage signaling was increased compared to healthy passage-matched controls. Thus, we propose a dominant-negative effect for specific heterozygous missense variants in the NEK8 kinase domain as a new cause of PKD."

so enough evidence for green rating as monoallelic

Created: 18 Oct 2023, 5:10 p.m. | Last Modified: 18 Oct 2023, 5:10 p.m.

Panel Version: 4.17

Mode of inheritance
MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, NOT imprinted

Phenotypes
polycystic kidney disease

Publications

• 37598857

Mode of pathogenicity
Loss-of-function variants (as defined in pop up message) DO NOT cause this phenotype - please provide details in the comments

Comment on list classification: Only 1 family. Await further evidence.

Created: 10 May 2016, 10:48 a.m.

Green List (high evidence)

No current test experience but this gene is on the list for an extended panel.

Created: 22 Oct 2015, 12:02 p.m.