Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Pivot Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Target Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Query: UMLS:C0403608 (
ureter
)
9,655
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Although the urinary tract is constantly challenged by microbial invasion, it remains free from colonization. Although little is known about how the urinary tract maintains sterility, the presence of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the urine suggests that they may play a role in its protection from infection.
Ribonuclease 7
(
RNase 7
) is a potent AMP that was first identified in the skin. Here, we characterize the expression and relevance of
RNase 7
in the human kidney and urinary tract. Using RNA isolated from healthy human tissue, we performed quantitative real-time PCR and found basal
RNASE7
expression in kidney and bladder tissue. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent analysis localized
RNase 7
to the urothelium of the bladder,
ureter
, and the intercalated cells of the collecting tubules. In control urine samples from healthy individuals, the concentration of
RNase 7
was found to be in the low micromolar range; very abundant for an AMP. Antibacterial neutralization assays showed that urinary
RNase 7
has potent antimicrobial properties against Gram-negative and Gram-positive uropathogenic bacteria. Thus,
RNase 7
is expressed in the human kidney and urinary tract and it may have an important antimicrobial role in maintaining tract sterility.
...
PMID:Ribonuclease 7 is a potent antimicrobial peptide within the human urinary tract. 2152 52
