Identification of a macromolecular crystal growth inhibitor in human urine as osteopontin

Macromolecules occurring in human urine inhibit the growth and/or aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals and may prevent the formation of kidney stones. Attention has focused particularly on proteins, as these seem to be most responsible for the inhibitory activity; three proteins, nephrocalcin, an unidentified protein rich in uronic acid, and uropontin have all been described as possessing such activity. We have recently isolated an unknown inhibitor of calcium oxalate crystal growth that co-eluted with trypsin inhibitor in several separation steps, which suggested its identity. The aim of the present study was to outline a simple procedure for isolating and identifying this inhibitor. Purification was done as follows: precipitation of the major proteins (albumin and uromucoid) with trichloroacetic acid, followed by anion exchange chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, anion exchange chromatography, negative affinity chromatography, and twice reversed phase chromatographies of the supernatant. By this procedure, the inhibitor was identified as being a fragment of osteopontin; urinary trypsin inhibitor and nucleic acids were excluded as being responsible for inhibitory action.