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Urine autoantibodies in interstitial cystitis
S Keay1, C O Zhang, A L Trifillis
1Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
The Journal of Urology
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Autoantibodies targeting epithelial cells are found in the urine of interstitial cystitis (IC) patients. However, these anti-epithelial cell autoantibodies are unlikely to be the primary cause of this chronic bladder disease.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Immunology
- Autoimmune Diseases
Background:
- Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder condition.
- Some features of IC suggest a potential autoimmune component.
- The role of autoimmunity in IC pathogenesis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if immunoglobulin fractions from IC patients' urine bind to human bladder epithelial cells.
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of autoantibodies in IC urine.
- To assess the specificity of these autoantibodies for bladder epithelial cells and other tissues.
Main Methods:
- Collected urine specimens from 14 IC patients and 19 controls.
- Isolated immunoglobulin fractions from urine.
- Performed in vitro binding assays using primary cultures of human bladder epithelial cells.
- Tested binding against epithelial cells from various other tissues.
Main Results:
- Urine autoantibodies binding to bladder epithelial cells were detected in 8 of 14 IC specimens (66.7%) versus 3 of 23 control specimens (13.0%).
- These autoantibodies recognized nuclear or cytoplasmic antigens and varied in specificity over time.
- The autoantibodies bound to epithelial cells from multiple tissue types, not exclusively bladder cells.
Conclusions:
- Anti-epithelial cell autoantibodies are present in the urine of individuals with interstitial cystitis.
- These autoantibodies are not specific to bladder epithelial cells.
- The findings suggest that these autoantibodies are unlikely to be the primary causative factor in interstitial cystitis.