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Effect of Mouse and Human Tamm-Horsfall Protein on Adhesion of Uropathogens to Human Uroepithelial Cells

Dept. of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

*Corresponding Author:

Saroj Sharma (M.D., F.A.M.S)

Emeritus Medical Scientist (EMS), ICMR

Former Professor (Medical Microbiology)

Department of Microbiology,

Biomedical Sciences Block, Panjab University,

Chandigarh 160014, India

E-mail address: rav4k@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Tamm-Horsfall Protein (THP) is the normal, conserved protein excreted in mammalian urine. For experimental studies, mice are preferred animals. The present study was undertaken to compare effect of coating of human THP (hTHP) and mouse THP (mTHP) on uropathogens and uroepithelial cells (UECs). Three common species of bacteria associated with UTIs were employed in planktonic and biofilm cell forms. On the whole, effect of hTHP and mTHP was comparable. Biofilm cells of all the three strains adhered to UECs in higher numbers in comparison to their planktonic counterparts in all four set of experiments. Findings provide the basis for future in vivo studies to be carried-out in mice where relevant conditions matching with humans can be created.

Keywords:  Tamm-Horsfall protein; biofilms; uroepithelial cells; uropathogens.

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