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Tamm-Horsfall autoantibodies in interstitial cystitis
D E Neal1, J P Dilworth, M B Kaack
1Department of Urology, Delta Regional Primate Research Center, Covington, New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Journal of Urology
|January 11, 1991
Summary
Patients with interstitial cystitis show elevated anti-Tamm-Horsfall protein antibodies, suggesting this protein plays a role in the condition. Measuring these antibodies may offer a new noninvasive diagnostic test for interstitial cystitis.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Immunology
- Pathogenesis
Background:
- Interstitial cystitis (IC) poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges with an unclear pathogenesis.
- Autoimmunity is a proposed etiology for IC.
- Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) presence in the urothelium correlates with abnormal permeability in IC patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Tamm-Horsfall protein in interstitial cystitis.
- To determine if serum anti-THP antibody titers differ between IC patients and controls.
- To evaluate the potential of anti-THP antibodies as a diagnostic marker for IC.
Main Methods:
- Eight patients with clinically diagnosed IC underwent cystoscopy and bladder biopsy.
- Histopathological analysis confirmed chronic inflammation and mast cell infiltration.
- Serum IgG antibody titers against THP were measured using ELISA, compared to a control group.
Main Results:
- All IC patients exhibited elevated preoperative anti-THP IgG titers (mean 2,750), significantly higher than controls (p = 0.02).
- Histopathology revealed chronic inflammation and mast cells in IC patients.
- Control group titers ranged from 0 to 500.
Conclusions:
- The humoral immune response to Tamm-Horsfall protein in IC patients suggests its involvement in the disease.
- Serum THP antibody measurement could serve as a valuable noninvasive diagnostic tool for interstitial cystitis.