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Tamm-Horsfall Protein Protects the Urinary Tract against Candida albicans

Alison Coady1, Anissa R Ramos1, Joshua Olson1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.

Infection and Immunity
|October 10, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THP) restricts Candida albicans colonization in the urinary tract by binding to fungal hyphae. This discovery reveals THP as a crucial host defense against fungal urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Mycology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by *Candida albicans* are common in hospitalized patients, particularly those with risk factors like antibiotic use, catheters, diabetes, or immunodeficiency.
  • Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THP), the most abundant urine protein, is known to protect against bacterial UTIs by inhibiting bacterial adherence.
  • The role of THP in defending against fungal pathogens like *C. albicans* has not been previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THP) in host defense against *Candida albicans* urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  • To determine if THP interacts with *C. albicans* and affects its adherence to the bladder epithelium.

Main Methods:

  • Demonstrated THP binding to *C. albicans* hyphae, dependent on Als3 adhesion glycoprotein expression.
  • Assessed THP's ability to block *C. albicans* adherence to bladder epithelial cells *in vitro*.
  • Utilized a *C. albicans* UTI model in THP-deficient mice to evaluate fungal burden.

Main Results:

  • THP binds specifically to the hyphal form of *C. albicans*, not the yeast form.
  • THP effectively inhibits the adherence of *C. albicans* to bladder epithelial cells.
  • THP-deficient mice exhibited a significantly higher fungal burden during UTI, indicating impaired host defense.

Conclusions:

  • Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THP) plays a significant role in restricting *Candida albicans* colonization of the urinary tract.
  • THP acts as a critical innate immune factor against fungal UTIs by preventing fungal adherence.
  • This study identifies a novel protective function of THP against fungal pathogens, expanding its known roles in renal and bladder protection.
Keywords:
Als3Candida albicansTamm-Horsfall proteinurinary tract infection

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