Identification of biologically active and inactive human uroguanylins in plasma and urine and their increases in renal insufficiency.
Uroguanylin, a 16-amino acid peptide, is an endogenous activator of intestinal and possibly renal guanylate cyclase C (GC-C). Using two synthetic topological isoforms of human uroguanylin, one bioactive, the other inactive, we prepared two antisera specific for the individual isoforms and developed sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIAs). The respective plasma concentrations of the bioactive and inactive uroguanylins in the normal individuals tested were 5.0 +/- 0.3 fmol/ml (mean +/- SE) and 1.6 +/- 0.1 fmol/ml. These concentrations increased in chronic renal failure (CRF). The major endogenous uroguanylin molecule in normal human urine was 16 amino acids long, whereas in the plasma and urine of CRF patients the major molecule was 10-kDa prouroguanylin. The RlAs established are promising tools for clarifying the physiological functions and pathophysiological implications of uroguanylin in water and electrolyte homeostasis.