| Summary: | Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THP) and uromodulin are the most abundant
glycoproteins in the urine of non-pregnant women and pregnant women,
respectively. Today, the structural profile and biological activities of these
glycoproteins are controversial. This study was to elucidate the glycan profiles of
THP and uromodulin, to investigate the immunosuppressive activities of these
glycoproteins and to correlate the pregnancy-associated changes to their
immunological functionality. A higher protein purity of THP and uromodulin were
isolated from diatomaceous earth filtration. MALDI-TOF/TOF MS analysis showed
that both THP and uromodulin expressed high mannose and complex-type N-glycan
carrying sialic acid residues, Sda, lacNac and lacdiNAc sequence as the capping
antennae. But uromodulin tended to express multiple degree of sialylation, in which
up to four sialic acid residues were expressed on its tetra-antennary N-glycans.
High-mannose glycan, the Man₆GlcNAc₂ of uromodulin was the most abundant
signal among all its N-glycans. Core 1 and Core 2-type Q-glycans were observed in
THP and uromodulin, with THP expressing more Q-glycans. MTS viability assay
showed that 125 µg/ml of uromodulin and 250 µg/ml of THP significantly reduced
the PHA-activated PBMC cell viability, to 85.64 ± 5.92% and 84.59 ± 2.94%,
respectively. Comparing to THP, uromodulin was 2-fold more active in suppressing
PBMC cell viability. Immunophenotyping analysis showed that CD4⁺ T helper cells,
CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells, CD56⁺ NK cells and CD14⁺ monocytes were suppressed by
THP. It induced pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Il-1ß, TNF and Th1 cytokine
IFN-y. On the other hand, uromodulin had slightly greater effect in suppressing
CD4⁺ T helper cells and CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells if compared to that of THP. It only
induced IL-1ß and suppressed both Th1 cytokine IFN-y and Th2 cytokine IL-10.
This indicates that THP has dual-immunomodulatory properties, by expressing both
suppressive (on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells) and stimulatory (on pro-inflammatory
cytokines IL-1ß and TNF) activities, whereas uromodulin is more
immunosuppressive than THP because it suppressed CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells,
stimulated Il-1ß only and withheld the TNF secretion. In summary, glycosylation
changes in uromodulin were shown in this study as compared with THP, which
might contribute to its immunosuppressive property.
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