TSC2 and cystic kidney disease: To delineate the molecular events between loss of TSC2 and the development of renal cysts of TSC, we first generated TSC cystic kidney model mice by crossing Tsc2flox/flox mice (Tsc2f/f) with the mice that express Cre recombinase under the control of mouse cadherin 16 (Cdh16) promoter (also known as ksp-cre), whose expression is limited to the renal tubules.