title: Uromodulin (Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein): a renal ligand for lymphokines.
abstract: The protein portion of the immunosuppressive glycoprotein uromodulin is identical to the Tamm-Horsfall urinary glycoprotein and is synthesized in the kidney. Evidence that the glycoproteins are the same is based on amino acid sequence identity, immunologic cross-reactivity, and tissue localization to the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop. Nucleic acid sequencing of clones for uromodulin isolated from a complementary DNA bank from human kidney predicts a protein 639 amino acids in length, including a 24--amino acid leader sequence and a cysteine-rich mature protein with eight potential glycosylation sites. Uromodulin and preparations of Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein bind to recombinant murine interleukin-1 (rIL-1) and human rIL-1 alpha, rIL-1 beta, and recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF). Uromodulin isolated from urine of pregnant women by lectin adherence is more immunosuppressive than material isolated by the original salt-precipitation protocol of Tamm and Horsfall. Immunohistologic studies demonstrate that rIL-1 and rTNF bind to the same area of the human kidney that binds to antiserum specific for uromodulin. Thus, uromodulin (Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein) may function as a unique renal regulatory glycoprotein that specifically binds to and regulates the circulating activity of a number of potent cytokines, including IL-1 and TNF.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009088:Mucoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D058949:Uromodulin
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008024:Ligands; D008222:Lymphokines; D009088:Mucoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C548612:UMOD protein, human; D058949:Uromodulin