title: Increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein and nerve growth factor expressions in serum of patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The etiology and pathogenesis of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) are unclear. Chronic inflammation is considered the main pathology of IC/BPS. This study measured the serum c-reactive protein (CRP), nerve growth factor (NGF) and pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-8 expression in patients with IC/BPS to elucidate the involvement of systemic inflammation in IC/BPS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were collected from 30 IC/BPS patients and 26 control subjects. The concentrations of serum nerve growth factor (NGF), IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8 were quantified using a bead-based, human serum adipokine panel kit. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was also assessed. Differences of serum CRP, NGF, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8 levels between the IC/BPS patients and controls were compared, and correlations between CRP and pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokine were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that CRP level (p = 0.031), NGF (p = 0.015) and pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokine IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8 levels were significantly higher in the patients with IC/BPS than among controls (all p<0.001). Significant associations were observed between IL-1β and IL-8 (p<0.001), IL-6 and CRP (p = 0.01), IL-6 and IL-8 (p = 0.02), and IL-6 and TNF-α (p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokine (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8) expression in the sera of IC/BPS patients implies not only mast cell activation, but also that other inflammatory mediators play important roles in the pathogenesis of IC/BPS. Thus, for some patients, IC/BPS is considered a chronic inflammatory disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan ; School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuan-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Chung-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Hsin-Tzu
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hann-Chorng
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor