Elevated Adiponectin in Expressed Prostatic Secretion is a Novel Indicator of Inflammatory Prostatitis.

Abstract

Prostatitis is a common urologic disease with a high prevalence and a significant negative impact on the quality of life. There is a lack of clear understanding of the pathogenesis of prostatitis, there are no rapid diagnostic methods nor effective treatment methods. The present study explored the cytokine profiles in expressed prostatic secretions of prostatitis in the hope of obtaining specific diagnostic biomarkers for prostatitis. Cytokine antibody arrays, ELISA, and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the levels and origin of cytokines in expressed prostatic secretions. The diagnostic value of adiponectin as an inflammatory indicator for sub-classification of prostatitis type III were evaluated. The results showed that adiponectin levels in prostatitis type IIIa (577.72 ± 558.86 ng/mL) were higher than in prostatitis type IIIb (124.82 (75.81, 241.04) ng/mL) and healthy controls (76.08 (23.34, 204.81) ng/mL), and that the adiponectin levels in prostatitis type IV (207.10 (128.02, 454.31) ng/mL) had a significant correlation with the white blood cell count in expressed prostatic secretion. Our results indicate that adiponectin had a moderate diagnostic value as an inflammatory indicator for sub-classification of prostatitis type III. It suggests that adiponectin plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory prostatitis and could be developed as a rapid laboratory test indicating inflammation in prostatitis.