Kidney α-Intercalated Cells, NGAL and Urinary Tract Infection

It is well known that kidney α-intercalated cells can acidify the urine and acidified urine can inhibit bacterial growth and other urinary organisms. However, regulation of acid-base balance rather than a dedicated function in preventing urinary tract infection has been assigned to α-intercalated cells. A series of studies, culminated by the publication of a paper (J Clin Invest. 2014 Jul 1;124(7):2963-76) from Dr. Barasch's lab unearthed a novel mechanism by which α-intercalated cells function in the innate immune defense of urinary tract infection. This mechanism involves production and release of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin by α-intercalated cells to chelate the siderophore containing host iron to achieve bacteriostasis.