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Expression of intercellular adhesion molecules in the bladder of patients with interstitial cystitis
1Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA.
Insights
Interstitial cystitis (IC) bladder biopsies show increased intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and other inflammatory markers. These findings correlate with bladder inflammation severity in IC patients.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder condition causing pain and urinary frequency.
- Pathological findings in IC bladders include urothelial defects, mast cell activation, and inflammation.
- Mast cells can trigger inflammation by upregulating cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of ICAM-1, P-selectin, E-selectin, talin, and vinculin in bladder biopsies from IC patients and controls.
- To correlate the expression of these molecules with the degree of bladder inflammation in IC.
Main Methods:
- Immunocytochemical analysis of fresh frozen bladder biopsies.
- Samples included bladders from female IC patients, normal female bladders, and various control tissues (foreskin, finger skin, transitional cell carcinoma).
Main Results:
- IC bladder biopsies frequently expressed ICAM-1 (9/10), P-selectin (6/10), vinculin (6/10), talin (5/10), and E-selectin (4/10), primarily perivascularly.
- Normal bladders showed minimal or no expression of these markers, except faint E-selectin.
- Control tissues (cancerous bladder/foreskin, inflamed finger) were positive only for ICAM-1.
- Activated mast cells associated with ICAM-1 were observed in IC samples.
Conclusions:
- ICAM-1 is significantly expressed in IC bladders.
- Variable expression of other studied markers suggests a role in the varying inflammatory responses seen in IC.
- These findings support the involvement of CAMs and inflammation in the pathophysiology of IC.
Objectives:
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.
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