Hess B
Policlinic of Medicine, University Hospital, Berne, Switzerland.
Urol Res. 1992;20(1):83-6. doi: 10.1007/BF00294343.
The processes of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystal nucleation, growth and aggregation (agglomeration) generally have been studied using a wide variety of assay systems/conditions. This paper reviews the apparently conflicting data on the effects of Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THP) on COM crystallization processes in vitro, with the main emphasis on crystal aggregation. According to its well-known physico-chemical properties, THP has a dual role in modifying crystal aggregation: at high pH and low ionic strength (IS). THP is a powerful crystal aggregation inhibitor. Upon lowering pH and raising IS, THP viscosity increases, leading to reduced crystal aggregation inhibition. In the presence of additional calcium ions, some THPs even become strong promoters of crystal aggregation. This phenomenon seems to be more pronounced in THPs isolated from recurrent calcium stone formers whose proteins exhibit an abnormally high tendency of polymerization. Recent studies suggest an inherited molecular abnormality of THP among some severe recurrent calcium stone formers.
通常使用各种各样的检测系统/条件来研究一水合草酸钙（COM）晶体的成核、生长和聚集（团聚）过程。本文综述了关于Tamm-Horsfall糖蛋白（THP）对体外COM结晶过程影响的明显相互矛盾的数据，主要侧重于晶体聚集。根据其众所周知的物理化学性质，THP在改变晶体聚集方面具有双重作用：在高pH值和低离子强度（IS）下，THP是一种强大的晶体聚集抑制剂。随着pH值降低和IS升高，THP的粘度增加，导致晶体聚集抑制作用减弱。在存在额外钙离子的情况下，一些THP甚至会成为晶体聚集的强促进剂。这种现象在从复发性钙结石形成者中分离出的THP中似乎更为明显，这些人的蛋白质表现出异常高的聚合倾向。最近的研究表明，一些严重复发性钙结石形成者中存在THP的遗传性分子异常。
