Uteroglobin interacts with the heparin-binding site of fibronectin and prevents fibronectin-IgA complex formation found in IgA-nephropathy

Immunoglobulin A (IgA)-nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary renal glomerular disease in the world that has no effective treatment. High levels of circulating IgA-fibronectin (Fn) complexes, characteristically found in IgAN patients, are suggested to cause abnormal deposition of IgA and Fn in the renal glomeruli of these patients causing renal failure. We previously reported that binding of Fn to uteroglobin (UG), a multifunctional anti-inflammatory protein, inhibits Fn-IgA heteromerization. However, the specific site of Fn-UG interaction until now remained unidentified. We report here that UG interacts with the heparin-binding site of Fn and propose that small molecules competing for interaction with this site may reduce the level of circulating Fn-IgA complexes in IgAN.