Abstract

Our present study investigated monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression in bladder tissue and urine from interstitial cystitis (IC) patients. Totally 35 patients with IC, 20 patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) and 25 healthy subjects were recruited into this present study. IC was diagnosed according to the NIDDK IC Diagnosis Standard. All IC patients received 24 h voiding diaries, O’Leary-Sant IC questionnaires, potassium sensitivity test (PST) and cystoscopy. RT-PCR and ELISA were used to determine the levels of MCP-1 in bladder tissues and urine specimens of IC patients, UTI patients and healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to determine the MCP-1 distribution in bladder tissue. ELISA results showed that urinary MCP-1 was 74.1 ± 36.9 pg/ml and 280.6 ± 68.9 pg/ml in IC and UTI patientsand10.8 ± 6.9 pg/ml in healthy controls (p < 0.01), respectively. RT-PCR analysis also revealed a moderate expression of MCP-1 mRNA in bladder tissue of IC patients. The severity of IC clinical symptoms was correlated with the levels of MCP-1. IC patients exhibited increased levels of MCP-1 in urine and bladder tissue. Increased MCP-1 may suggest IC after exclusion of UTI.

Key words: Interstitial cystitis, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, urinary infection.

Abbreviation