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Uteroglobin: A Steroid-Inducible Immunomodulatory Protein That Founded the Secretoglobin Superfamily

Section on Developmental Genetics (A.B.M., Z.Z.), Heritable Disorders Branch, The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1830; and Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy (B.S.C.), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430

Correspondence: Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Anil B. Mukherjee, M.D., Ph.D., Head, Section on Developmental Genetics, Endocrinology and Genetics Program, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Building 10, Room 9D42, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1830. E-mail: mukherja{at}exchange.nih.gov

Blastokinin or uteroglobin (UG) is a steroid-inducible, evolutionarily conserved, secreted protein that has been extensively studied from the standpoint of its structure and molecular biology. However, the physiological function(s) of UG still remains elusive. Isolated from the uterus of rabbits during early pregnancy, UG is the founding member of a growing superfamily of proteins called Secretoglobin (Scgb). Numerous studies demonstrated that UG is a multifunctional protein with antiinflammatory/ immunomodulatory properties. It inhibits soluble phospholipase A₂ activity and binds and perhaps sequesters hydrophobic ligands such as progesterone, retinols, polychlorinated biphenyls, phospholipids, and prostaglandins. In addition to its antiinflammatory activities, UG manifests antichemotactic, antiallergic, antitumorigenic, and embryonic growth-stimulatory activities. The tissue-specific expression of the UG gene is regulated by several steroid hormones, although a nonsteroid hormone, prolactin, further augments its expression in the uterus. The mucosal epithelia of virtually all organs that communicate with the external environment express UG, and it is present in the blood, urine, and other body fluids. Although the physiological functions of this protein are still under investigation, a single nucleotide polymorphism in the UG gene appears to be associated with several inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. Investigations with UG-knockout mice revealed that the absence of this protein leads to phenotypes that suggest its critical homeostatic role(s) against oxidative damage, inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer. Recent studies on UG-binding proteins (receptors) provide further insight into the multifunctional nature of this protein. Based on its antiinflammatory and antiallergic properties, UG is a potential drug target.

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