Uroplakins and their potential applications in urology

Urothelium is a highly specialized type of epithelium covering the interior of the urinary tract. One of the structures responsible for its unique features are urothelial plaques formed from glycoprotein heteropolymers, the uroplakins. Four types of uroplakins are known - UPIa, UPIb, UPII, UPIII. Herein we review the current status of knowledge about uroplakins and discuss their potential clinical applications.

A PubMed search was conducted to find original and review papers about uroplakins.

Uroplakins can be detected in tissue, urine and blood. The process of urothelial plaque formation is complex and its disturbances resulting in incorrect plaque formation might be responsible for some pathological states. Additionally, uroplakins might be associated with other pathological processes i.e. urothelial cancer or infections of the urinary tract.

Uroplakins as the end-product of urothelial cells have unique features and a complex structure. These glycoproteins can be involved in some diseases of the urinary tract and as such can be used as potential targets for intervention and markers of the disease.

Central European journal of urology. 2016 Jul 08 [Epub]

Michal Andrzej Matuszewski, Krzysztof Tupikowski, Łukasz Dołowy, Beata Szymańska, Janusz Dembowski, Romuald Zdrojowy

Department of Urology, University Clinical Hospital in Wrocław, Poland., Department of Urology and Oncologic Urology, Wrocław Medical University, Poland., Department of Toxicology, Wrocław Medical University, Poland.