Metallothionein overexpression of bladder biopsies associated with tissue hypoxia in patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study the relationship between hypoxia and metallothionein expression in bladder biopsies of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome patients.

METHODS:

The study group consisted of 41 patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, and the control group consisted of 12 volunteers without any interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome symptoms. All biopsy specimens were analyzed for both proteins of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and metallothionein expression by immunoblotting, immunostaining and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test.

RESULTS:

An increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and metallothionein was noted in the study group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Both proteins of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and metallothionein mainly distributed over bladder urothelium by immunohistochemical staining, and showed co-localization under confocal microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS:

High expression and co-localization of metallothionein and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in the bladder mucosa of patients with interstitial cystitis suggest that overexpression of metallothionein is associated with the bladder hypoxia related to this disease.

• Authors: Jane-Dar Lee, Ming-Huei Lee
• Journal: International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association (Int J Urol) Vol. 21 Issue 7 Pg. 719-23 (Jul 2014) ISSN: 1442-2042 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 24698414 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2014 The Japanese Urological Association.

Chemical References

• HIF1A protein, human
• Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
• Metallothionein

Topics

• Adult
• Biopsy
• Cystitis, Interstitial (metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypoxia (metabolism, pathology)
• Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit (metabolism)
• Male
• Metallothionein (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Urinary Bladder (metabolism, pathology)
• Urothelium (metabolism, pathology)