title: Identification of human urinary trefoil factor 1 as a novel calcium oxalate crystal growth inhibitor.
abstract: Previous research on proteins that inhibit kidney stone formation has identified a relatively small number of well-characterized inhibitors. Identification of additional stone inhibitors would increase understanding of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of nephrolithiasis. We have combined conventional biochemical methods with recent advances in mass spectrometry (MS) to identify a novel calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal growth inhibitor in normal human urine. Anionic proteins were isolated by DEAE adsorption and separated by HiLoad 16/60 Superdex 75 gel filtration. A fraction with potent inhibitory activity against CaOx crystal growth was isolated and purified by anion exchange chromatography. The protein in 2 subfractions that retained inhibitory activity was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight MS and electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem MS as human trefoil factor 1 (TFF1). Western blot analysis confirmed the mass spectrometric protein identification. Functional studies of urinary TFF1 demonstrated that its inhibitory potency was similar to that of nephrocalcin. The inhibitory activity of urinary TFF1 was dose dependent and was inhibited by TFF1 antisera. Anti-C-terminal antibody was particularly effective, consistent with our proposed model in which the 4 C-terminal glutamic residues of TFF1 interact with calcium ions to prevent CaOx crystal growth. Concentrations and relative amounts of TFF1 in the urine of patients with idiopathic CaOx kidney stone were significantly less (2.5-fold for the concentrations and 5- to 22-fold for the relative amounts) than those found in controls. These data indicate that TFF1 is a novel potent CaOx crystal growth inhibitor with a potential pathophysiological role in nephrolithiasis.
authors.affiliation: Medical Molecular Biology Unit, Office for Research and Development, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Somchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chutipongtanate
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Suchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sritippayawan
authors.forename: Jeeraporn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pittayamateekul
authors.forename: Paisal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parichatikanond
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Westley
authors.forename: Felicity E B
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Prida
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malasit
authors.forename: Visith
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thongboonkerd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000838:Anions; D001665:Binding Sites; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003460:Crystallization; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D012737:Sex Factors; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013997:Time Factors; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology* / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007477:Ions; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C051838:TFF1 protein, human; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C029490:nephrocalcin; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D002482:Cellulose