Expression of intercellular adhesion molecules in the bladder of patients with interstitial cystitis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the presence of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), P-selectin, and E-selectin, as well as the cytoskeletal components talin and vinculin that bind to cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs), in bladder biopsies from patients with interstitial cystitis (IC) and controls. IC is a sterile, bladder disorder characterized by urinary frequency and pelvic floor pain. The pathologic bladder findings include defective urothelium, activated mast cells, and variable inflammation. Mast cells can induce the expression of CAMs necessary for initiation of inflammation.


METHODS
Fresh frozen biopsies were analyzed immunocytochemically from 2 female normal bladders, 10 female IC bladders, 1 clear margin of transitional cell carcinoma of female bladder, 1 normal foreskin, 1 transitional cell carcinoma of foreskin, and 1 inflamed male finger.


RESULTS
Of the 10 IC samples, 9 were positive for ICAM-1, 6 for P-selectin, 6 for vinculin, 5 for talin, and 4 for E-selectin, all exclusively perivascular. Both normal bladders were negative for ICAM-1 and P-selectin and faintly positive for E-selectin, and one was weakly positive for talin and vinculin; the normal foreskin was negative. The "control" samples from the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and foreskin, as well as the inflamed finger skin, were positive only for ICAM-1. An increased number of activated mast cells associated with ICAM-1 was noted in IC.


CONCLUSIONS
These results showed that ICAM-1 is expressed in IC, with variable expression of the other markers studied, supporting the different degrees of bladder inflammation noted in patients with IC.
Green
M
M
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA.
Filippou
A
A
Sant
G
G
Theoharides
T C
TC
D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities; D001706:Biopsy; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010413:Penis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016608:Talin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016596:Vinculin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D019040:E-Selectin; D019007:P-Selectin; D016608:Talin; D016596:Vinculin; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C112889:SPG7 protein, human; D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities