[Uromodulin - can it be a new marker of kidney damage?]

Przegl Lek. 2013;70(11):976-82.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

Uromodulin (Tamm-Horsfall protein) is the most abundant protein excreted in the urine under physiological conditions. It is exclusively produced in the kidney and secreted into the urine via proteolytic cleavage. Its biological function is stillnot fully understood. Uromodulin has been linked to waterl electrolyte balance and to kidney innate immunity. Also, studies in knockout mice demonstrated that it has a protective role against urinary tract infections and renal stone formation. Mutations in the gene encoding uromodulin lead to rare autosomal dominant diseases, collectively referred to as uromodulin-associated kidney diseases. They are characterized by progressive tubulointerstitial damage, impaired urinary concentrating ability, hyperuricemia, renal cysts, and progressive renal failure. Novel in vivo studies point at intracellular accumulation of mutant uromodulin as a key primary event in the disease pathogenesis. Recently, genome-wide association studies identified uromodulin as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension, and suggested that the level of uromodulin in the urine could represent a useful biomarker for the development of CKD.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Gout / genetics
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / diagnosis
  • Hypertension / urine*
  • Hyperuricemia / genetics
  • Kidney Calculi / metabolism
  • Kidney Calculi / prevention & control
  • Kidney Diseases / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mutation
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / urine*
  • Risk Factors
  • Urinary Tract Infections / metabolism
  • Urinary Tract Infections / prevention & control
  • Uromodulin / genetics
  • Uromodulin / metabolism
  • Uromodulin / urine*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Uromodulin

Supplementary concepts

  • Juvenile gout