title: Experimental autoimmune prostatitis induces microglial activation in the spinal cord.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is unknown and factors including the host's immune response and the nervous system have been attributed to the development of CP/CPPS. We previously demonstrated that mast cells and chemokines such as CCL2 and CCL3 play an important role in mediating prostatitis. Here, we examined the role of neuroinflammation and microglia in the CNS in the development of chronic pelvic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) was induced using a subcutaneous injection of rat prostate antigen. Sacral spinal cord tissue (segments S14-S5) was isolated and utilized for immunofluorescence or QRT-PCR analysis. Tactile allodynia was measured at baseline and at various points during EAP using Von Frey fibers as a function for pelvic pain. EAP mice were treated with minocycline after 30 days of prostatitis to test the efficacy of microglial inhibition on pelvic pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prostatitis induced the expansion and activation of microglia and the development of inflammation in the spinal cord as determined by increased expression levels of CCL3, IL-1β, Iba1, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Microglial activation in mice with prostatitis resulted in increased expression of P2X4R and elevated levels of BDNF, two molecular markers associated with chronic pain. Pharmacological inhibition of microglia alleviated pain in mice with prostatitis and resulted in decreased expression of IL-1β, P2X4R, and BDNF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that prostatitis leads to inflammation in the spinal cord and the activation and expansion of microglia, mechanisms that may contribute to the development and maintenance of chronic pelvic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Done
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schaeffer
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thumbikat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D054405:Chemokine CCL3 / Q000378:metabolism; D059350:Chronic Pain; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006930:Hyperalgesia; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008911:Minocycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D009187:Myelitis / Q000378:metabolism; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054389:Receptors, CCR1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C000592874:CCR5 protein, mouse; C496534:Ccl3 protein, mouse; C515301:Ccr1 protein, mouse; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D054389:Receptors, CCR1; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D008911:Minocycline
keywords: CPPS; microglia; neuroinflammation; pelvic pain; prostatitis