[Anti-inflammatory molecule, Clara cell 10 kilodalton protein and respiratory diseases]

Clara cell 10 kilodalton protein(CC10) is the major product of non-ciliated bronchiolar epithelial cells (Clara cells) and is identical with uteroglobin and urinary protein 1(P-1). CC10/uteroglobin is a homodimer consisting of 70 amino acid subunits arranged in an antiparallel fashion and connected by two disulfide bonds. CC10/uteroglobin shows an anti-inflammatory property including inhibition of phospholipase A2 and phospholipase C. We analyzed the epitope of monoclonal antibodies(mAbs) to human CC10/P-1. TY-5, TY-7 and TY-8 recognized alpha 1-, alpha 2- and alpha 3-helix of CC10, respectively. The combination of TY-1 and TY-2 are most suitable for ELISA, while TY-5 and TY-7 are very good for immunoblot and immunohistochemical analysis. Circulating CC10 levels are increased in sarcoidosis and decreased in asthma. Bronchoalveolar lavage CC10 levels are increased in sarcoidosis patients with a good outcome. The use of these mAbs is a powerful tool to investigate the clinical roles of CC10. CC10 is a regulator of the inflammatory process in respiratory diseases.