Assessing In Vivo Bladder Urothelial Hyper-Permeability: Preclinical and Clinical Implications

Abstract

To provide an update on the detection and evaluation of bladder hyper-permeability related to interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) and inflammatory bowel disorders (e.g., inflammatory bowel syndrome). We developed a contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) approach to assess in vivo bladder hyper-permeability by instilling a MRI contrast agent, Gd-DTPA (gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid), by intravesical injection through a catheter into the bladder. Molecular-targeted MRI (mt-MRI) was also used to assess in vivo bladder hyper-permeability-associated biomarker expressions (e.g., claudin-2, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1, and decorin) in preclinical models. An example of evaluating the effect of a therapy against bladder hyper-permeability is also discussed. The CE-MRI approach to detect in vivo bladder hyper-permeability not only serves as a measure of disease severity for IC/PBS and cross-talk complications associated with IBS but also be used to monitor therapeutic response.