Tamm-horsfall protein protects against urinary tract infection by proteus mirabilis.
OBJECTIVE
Proteus mirabilis is a common cause of urinary tract infection. We determined the role of Tamm-Horsfall protein as a host defense factor against the cystitis and pyelonephritis caused by P. mirabilis.


METHODS
We generated Tamm-Horsfall protein gene knockout mice using homologous recombination. We introduced P. mirabilis transurethrally into the bladder of Tamm-Horsfall protein deficient (THP(-/-)) and genetically similar WT (THP(+/+)) mice. We cultured urine to quantitate the degree of bacteriuria. We examined bladders and kidneys grossly and histomorphometrically to determine the intensity of inflammation.


RESULTS
THP(-/-) mice had more severe bacteriuria and cystitis than THP(+/+) mice. THP(-/-) mice had more pyelonephritic abscesses than THP(+/+) mice. The severity of histological pyelonephritis on semiquantitative histomorphometric analysis appeared to be greater in THP(-/-) mice. The difference between the 2 groups approached but did not attain statistical significance (p = 0.053).


CONCLUSIONS
Tamm-Horsfall protein acts as a host defense factor against P. mirabilis induced urinary tract infection.
Raffi
Hajamohideen S
HS
Department of Medicine/Nephrology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA.
Bates
James M
JM
Laszik
Zoltan
Z
Kumar
Satish
S
D000818:Animals; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003556:Cystitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009088:Mucoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011336:Probability; D011512:Proteus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011897:Random Allocation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D058949:Uromodulin
D005819:Genetic Markers; D009088:Mucoproteins; C548613:Umod protein, mouse; D058949:Uromodulin