Protein expression profiling in interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome: A pilot study of proteins associated with inflammation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis

ObjectiveProtein arrays are rapidly becoming a powerful means to detect proteins, monitor their expression levels, and investigate protein interactions and functions. We used this technology and demonstrated its application in identifying potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS).Materials and MethodsTo compare the expression profiles of 40 proteins related to inflammation, 30 proteins related to apoptosis, and 20 proteins related to angiogenesis, we performed a protein array assay using bladder tissues of three normal and six IC/PBS patients and urine samples at the baseline and after three repeated intravesical onabotulinumtoxinA injections. Different protein expression levels were determined using the Image J process. After the onabotulinumtoxinA injections, urine samples of IC/PBS the patient were analyzed using angiogenesis proteins, and results were compared with the untreated baseline data.ResultsOf all inflammatory antigens, 15 were slightly promoted in the IC/PBS patients' bladder tissues. Moreover, 80% of proapoptotic proteins and 10% of antiapoptotic proteins on the protein array increased. We also found that several angiogenesis cytokines decreased in the urine of the IC/PBS patients after the onabotulinumtoxinA injections.ConclusionOur results indicate that several signal transduction pathways are involved in the pathophysiology of IC/PBS and provide valuable information on the signal networks of different pathways in IC/PBS, including inflammation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. This is a powerful database to further investigate molecular mechanisms of IC/PBS.