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Nanamatsu A, de Araújo L, LaFavers KA, El-Achkar TM. Advances in uromodulin biology and potential clinical applications. Nat Rev Nephrol 2024:10.1038/s41581-024-00881-7. [PMID: 39160319 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-024-00881-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
Uromodulin (also known as Tamm-Horsfall protein) is a kidney-specific glycoprotein secreted bidirectionally into urine and into the circulation, and it is the most abundant protein in normal urine. Although the discovery of uromodulin predates modern medicine, its significance in health and disease has been rather enigmatic. Research studies have gradually revealed that uromodulin exists in multiple forms and has important roles in urinary and systemic homeostasis. Most uromodulin in urine is polymerized into highly organized filaments, whereas non-polymeric uromodulin is detected both in urine and in the circulation, and can have distinct roles. The interactions of uromodulin with the immune system, which were initially reported to be a key role of this protein, are now better understood. Moreover, the discovery that uromodulin is associated with a spectrum of kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease and autosomal-dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease, has further accelerated investigations into the role of this protein. These discoveries have prompted new questions and ushered in a new era in uromodulin research. Here, we delineate the latest discoveries in uromodulin biology and its emerging roles in modulating kidney and systemic diseases, and consider future directions, including its potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azuma Nanamatsu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Larissa de Araújo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kaice A LaFavers
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Tarek M El-Achkar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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Thielemans R, Speeckaert R, Delrue C, De Bruyne S, Oyaert M, Speeckaert MM. Unveiling the Hidden Power of Uromodulin: A Promising Potential Biomarker for Kidney Diseases. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3077. [PMID: 37835820 PMCID: PMC10572911 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13193077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Uromodulin, also known as Tamm-Horsfall protein, represents the predominant urinary protein in healthy individuals. Over the years, studies have revealed compelling associations between urinary and serum concentrations of uromodulin and various parameters, encompassing kidney function, graft survival, cardiovascular disease, glucose metabolism, and overall mortality. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in uromodulin as a novel and effective biomarker with potential applications in diverse clinical settings. Reduced urinary uromodulin levels have been linked to an elevated risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiac surgery. In the context of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of different etiologies, urinary uromodulin levels tend to decrease significantly and are strongly correlated with variations in estimated glomerular filtration rate. The presence of uromodulin in the serum, attributable to basolateral epithelial cell leakage in the thick ascending limb, has been observed. This serum uromodulin level is closely associated with kidney function and histological severity, suggesting its potential as a biomarker capable of reflecting disease severity across a spectrum of kidney disorders. The UMOD gene has emerged as a prominent locus linked to kidney function parameters and CKD risk within the general population. Extensive research in multiple disciplines has underscored the biological significance of the top UMOD gene variants, which have also been associated with hypertension and kidney stones, thus highlighting the diverse and significant impact of uromodulin on kidney-related conditions. UMOD gene mutations are implicated in uromodulin-associated kidney disease, while polymorphisms in the UMOD gene show a significant association with CKD. In conclusion, uromodulin holds great promise as an informative biomarker, providing valuable insights into kidney function and disease progression in various clinical scenarios. The identification of UMOD gene variants further strengthens its relevance as a potential target for better understanding kidney-related pathologies and devising novel therapeutic strategies. Future investigations into the roles of uromodulin and regulatory mechanisms are likely to yield even more profound implications for kidney disease diagnosis, risk assessment, and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raïsa Thielemans
- Department of Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (R.T.); (C.D.)
| | | | - Charlotte Delrue
- Department of Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (R.T.); (C.D.)
| | - Sander De Bruyne
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (S.D.B.); (M.O.)
| | - Matthijs Oyaert
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (S.D.B.); (M.O.)
| | - Marijn M. Speeckaert
- Department of Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (R.T.); (C.D.)
- Research Foundation Flanders, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
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Algharably EAH, Villagomez Fuentes LE, Toepfer S, König M, Regitz-Zagrosek V, Bertram L, Bolbrinker J, Demuth I, Kreutz R. Longitudinal effects of a common UMOD variant on kidney function, blood pressure, cognitive and physical function in older women and men. J Hum Hypertens 2023; 37:709-717. [PMID: 36443444 PMCID: PMC10403350 DOI: 10.1038/s41371-022-00781-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Genetic variants in UMOD associate with kidney function and hypertension. These phenotypes are also linked to sex-related differences and impairment in cognitive and physical function in older age. Here we evaluate longitudinal associations between a common UMOD rs4293393-A>G variant and changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood pressure (BP), cognitive and physical function parameters in older participants in the BASE-II after long-term follow-up as part of the GendAge study. Overall, 1010 older participants (mean age 75.7 ± 3.7 years, 51.6% women) were analyzed after follow-up (mean 7.4 years) both in cross-sectional analysis and in longitudinal analysis as compared to baseline. In cross-sectional analysis, heterozygous G-allele carriers exhibited significantly higher eGFR values (AA, 71.3 ml/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI, 70.3-72.3 vs. AG, 73.5 ml/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI, 72.1-74.9, P = 0.033). Male heterozygous G-allele carriers had lower odds of eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR 0.51, 95% CI, 0.28-0.95, P = 0.032) and in Timed Up and Go-Test ≥ 10 s (OR 0.50, 95% CI, 0.29-0.85, P = 0.011) whereas women were less likely to have hypertension (OR 0.58, CI, 0.37-0.91, P = 0.018). UMOD genotypes were not significantly associated with longitudinal changes in any investigated phenotype. Thus, while the impact of UMOD rs4293393 on kidney function is maintained in aging individuals, this variant has overall no impact on longitudinal changes in BP, kidney, cognitive or functional phenotypes. However, our results suggest a possible sex-specific modifying effect of UMOD on eGFR and physical function in men and hypertension prevalence in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Engi Abdel-Hady Algharably
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Linda Elizabeth Villagomez Fuentes
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Toepfer
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian König
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vera Regitz-Zagrosek
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute for Gender in Medicine, Center for Cardiovascular Research, 13347, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zürich, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lars Bertram
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics, Institutes of Neurogenetics and Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Juliane Bolbrinker
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reinhold Kreutz
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
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Jiang X, Liu X, Qu X, Zhu P, Wo F, Xu X, Jin J, He Q, Wu J. Integration of metabolomics and peptidomics reveals distinct molecular landscape of human diabetic kidney disease. Theranostics 2023; 13:3188-3203. [PMID: 37351171 PMCID: PMC10283058 DOI: 10.7150/thno.80435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes, and there is an urgent need to discover reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis. Here, we established an effective urine multi-omics platform and integrated metabolomics and peptidomics to investigate the biological changes during DKD pathogenesis. Methods: Totally 766 volunteers (221 HC, 198 T2DM, 175 early DKD, 125 overt DKD, and 47 grey-zone T2DM patients with abnormal urinary mALB concentration) were included in this study. Non-targeted metabolic fingerprints of urine samples were acquired on matrix-free LDI-MS platform by the tip-contact extraction method using fluorinated ethylene propylene coated silicon nanowires chips (FEP@SiNWs), while peptide profiles hidden in urine samples were uncovered by MALDI-TOF MS after capturing urine peptides by porous silicon microparticles. Results: After multivariate analysis, ten metabolites and six peptides were verified to be stepwise regulated in different DKD stages. The altered metabolic pathways and biological processes associated with the DKD pathogenesis were concentrated in amino acid metabolism and cellular protein metabolic process, which were supported by renal transcriptomics. Interestingly, multi-omics significantly increased the diagnostic accuracy for both early DKD diagnosis and DKD status discrimination. Combined with machine learning, a stepwise prediction model was constructed and 89.9% of HC, 75.5% of T2DM, 69.6% of early DKD and 75.7% of overt DKD subjects in the external validation cohort were correctly classified. In addition, 87.5% of grey-zone patients were successfully distinguished from T2DM patients. Conclusion: This multi-omics platform displayed a satisfactory ability to explore molecular information and provided a new insight for establishing effective DKD management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinrong Jiang
- Institution of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xingyue Liu
- Institution of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xuetong Qu
- Institution of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Pingya Zhu
- Well-healthcare Technologies Co., Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Fangjie Wo
- Well-healthcare Technologies Co., Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Xinran Xu
- Institution of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Juan Jin
- Department of Nephrology, The First People's Hospital of Hangzhou Lin'an District, Affiliated Lin'an People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Qiang He
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Jianmin Wu
- Institution of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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Maringhini S, Cusumano R, Corrado C, Puccio G, Pavone G, D’Alessandro MM, Sapia MC, Devuyst O, Abbate S. Uromodulin and Vesico-Ureteral Reflux: A Genetic Study. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020509. [PMID: 36831047 PMCID: PMC9952937 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is associated with urinary tract infections (UTI) and renal scars. The kidney damage is correlated with the grade of reflux and the number of UTI, but other factors may also play a role. Uromodulin (UMOD) is a protein produced by kidney tubular cells, forming a matrix in the lumen. We evaluated whether the common variant rs4293393 in the UMOD gene was associated with febrile UTI (FUTI) and/or scars in a group of children with VUR. A total of 31 patients with primary VUR were enrolled. Renal scars were detected in 16 children; no scar was detected in 15 children. Genotype rs4293393 TC (TC) was present in 8 patients, 7 (88%) had scars; genotype rs4293393 TT (TT) was found in 23 patients, and 9 (39%) had scars. Among children with scars, those with TC compared with those with TT were younger (mean age 77 vs. 101 months), their reflux grade was comparable (3.7 vs. 3.9), and the number of FUTI was lower (2.9 vs. 3.7 per patient). Children with VUR carrying UMOD genotype rs4293393 TC seem more prone to developing renal scars, independent of FUTI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvio Maringhini
- Department of Pediatrics, Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione ISMETT, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-349-663-2581
| | - Rosa Cusumano
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ed Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Civico, Di Cristina, Benfratelli, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Ciro Corrado
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ed Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Civico, Di Cristina, Benfratelli, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Puccio
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ed Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Civico, Di Cristina, Benfratelli, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Pavone
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ed Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Civico, Di Cristina, Benfratelli, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Michela D’Alessandro
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ed Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Civico, Di Cristina, Benfratelli, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Sapia
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ed Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Civico, Di Cristina, Benfratelli, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Olivier Devuyst
- Department of Physiology, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Serena Abbate
- Department of Pediatrics, Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione ISMETT, 90127 Palermo, Italy
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Noonin C, Peerapen P, Yoodee S, Kapincharanon C, Kanlaya R, Thongboonkerd V. Systematic analysis of modulating activities of native human urinary Tamm-Horsfall protein on calcium oxalate crystallization, growth, aggregation, crystal-cell adhesion and invasion through extracellular matrix. Chem Biol Interact 2022; 357:109879. [PMID: 35263610 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.109879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Functions of Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP), the most abundant human urinary protein, have been studied for decades. However, its precise roles in kidney stone formation remain controversial. In this study, we aimed to clarify the roles of native human urinary THP in calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) kidney stone formation. THP was purified from the human urine by adsorption method using diatomaceous earth (DE). Its effects on stone formation processes, including COM crystallization, crystal growth, aggregation, crystal-cell adhesion and invasion through extracellular matrix (ECM), were examined. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting confirmed that DE adsorption yielded 84.9% purity of the native THP isolated from the human urine. Systematic analyses revealed that THP (at 0.4-40 μg/ml) concentration-dependently reduced COM crystal size but did not affect the crystal mass during initial crystallization. At later steps, THP concentration-dependently inhibited COM crystal growth and aggregation, and prevented crystal-cell adhesion only at 40 μg/ml. However, THP did not affect crystal invasion through the ECM. Sequence analysis revealed two large calcium-binding domains (residues 65-107 and 108-149) and three small oxalate-binding domains (residues 199-207, 361-368 and 601-609) in human THP. Immunofluorescence study confirmed the binding of THP to COM crystals. Analyses for calcium-affinity and/or oxalate-affinity demonstrated that THP exerted a high affinity with only calcium, not oxalate. Functional validation revealed that saturation of THP with calcium, not with oxalate, could abolish the inhibitory effects of THP on COM crystal growth, aggregation and crystal-cell adhesion. These data highlight the inhibitory roles of the native human urinary THP in COM crystal growth, aggregation and crystal-cell adhesion, which are the important processes for kidney stone formation. Such inhibitory effects of THP are most likely mediated via its high affinity with calcium ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chadanat Noonin
- Medical Proteomics Unit, Office for Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Paleerath Peerapen
- Medical Proteomics Unit, Office for Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Sunisa Yoodee
- Medical Proteomics Unit, Office for Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Chompunoot Kapincharanon
- Medical Proteomics Unit, Office for Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Rattiyaporn Kanlaya
- Medical Proteomics Unit, Office for Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Visith Thongboonkerd
- Medical Proteomics Unit, Office for Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
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