Renal inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 3 increases in calcium oxalate stone-forming patients

Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy-chain proteins bind to the protease inhibitor bikunin and to hyaluronan, stabilizes extracellular matrix in various tissues, and also inhibits calcium oxalate crystallization in vitro. In both normal and stone-forming patients, we found heavy chain 3 and hyaluronan in the interstitial matrix of the kidney. Osteopontin was found in the collecting duct, thin loop of Henle, and urothelial cells. In stone formers, heavy chain 3 was also present in collecting duct, thin loop, and interstitial cells. Heavy chain 3 and osteopontin colocalized in plaque matrix and urothelial cells. Within individual plaque spherules, heavy chain 3 was found in the matrix layer while osteopontin was located along the crystal-matrix interface. Bikunin was present only in the collecting duct apical membranes and the loop cell cytoplasm of stone formers colocalizing with osteopontin and heavy chain 3. Widespread heavy chain 3 was only present in stone formers, whereas osteopontin was similarly expressed in normal and stone-forming subjects except for its localization in plaques of the stone formers. This is consistent with studies linking inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor components to human stone disease, although their role is still unclear. Heavy chain 3 may also play a role in stabilizing hyaluronan in the renal interstitial matrix.