title: Tamm-Horsfall autoantibodies in interstitial cystitis.
abstract: Interstitial cystitis presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Although many etiologies, including autoimmunity, have been proposed its pathogenesis remains obscure. Tamm-Horsfall protein has been identified in the superficial urothelium of patients with interstitial cystitis demonstrating abnormal urothelial permeability. Eight patients with a clinical diagnosis of interstitial cystitis underwent cystoscopy and bladder biopsy. Characteristic cystoscopic findings were present, and each patient had chronic inflammation and mast cells by histopathological analysis. Preoperative anti-Tamm-Horsfall protein serum antibody (IgG) titers were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (range 500 to 8,000, mean 2,750). A control group of 8 patients with a negative urological history also had titers of 0 to 500 (p = 0.02). The humoral response to Tamm-Horsfall protein in these patients suggests a role for Tamm-Horsfall protein in interstitial cystitis. Measurement of serum Tamm-Horsfall protein antibody may prove to be useful as a noninvasive diagnostic test in patients with this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Delta Regional Primate Research Center, Covington, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dilworth
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kaack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003556:Cystitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003558:Cystoscopy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009088:Mucoproteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology; D058949:Uromodulin
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D009088:Mucoproteins; C548612:UMOD protein, human; D058949:Uromodulin