In terms of the pathogenesis of ADPKD, autophagy plays a crucial role in the cystogenesis (Zhu et al., 2017), which is supported by the fact that autophagy activators can slow down the formation and growth of renal cysts, thereby preserving renal function in a Pkd1 mutant zebrafish model. This evidence concerns the gene PKD1 and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.