VANGL2 and Kidney Cyst: These defects correlate with reported sites of Vangl2 mRNA expression, including podocytes and ureteric bud epithelia.14, 16 Furthermore, knockdown of Vangl2 in cell culture perturbs the mobility of kidney epithelia,17 and in vivo the protocadherin Fat4 genetically interacts with Vangl2 in kidney cyst formation.11