Expression and clinical significance of mast cells and related immune factors in interstitial cystitis/ bladder pain syndrome

Abstract

Objective To investigate the significance of mast cells activation, and IL-6, IL-10, sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins 8 (Siglec-8) expression in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Methods Bladder mucosal biopsy tissues of 21 patients with IC/BPS admitted to our hospital from March 2016 to October 2017 were taken as the IC/BPS group, and normal bladder mucosa biopsy tissues of 9 patients who underwent ureteroscopy were taken as the control group. In the IC/BPS group, there were 3 males and 18 females aged (56.2±3.4) years, and the patients' pain symptom score (PUF) was (24.6±3.6). Four males and five females in the control group were aged (63±5.1 )years. The infiltration of bladder mucosa mast cells and plasma cells in IC/BPS group and control group was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of IL-6, IL-10 and Siglec-8 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The relationship between the expression level of the immune index and the PUF score was analyzed. Results In the IC/BPS group, mast cells and plasma cells was observed in 18 of the 21 cases, but no mast cells or plasma cells were observed in the control group. Expression of IL-6 in IC/BPS group 1 case (-), 11 cases(+ ) and 9 cases (+ + ). IL-6 expression in the control group 9 cases were all (-). The difference of IL-6 expression between the IC/BPS group and the control group was statistically significant (P=0.001). Expression of IL-10 were 3 cases (-), 7 cases (+ + ), 11 cases (+ + ) in IC/BPS group, while 7 cases (-), 2 cases (+ + ), and 0 cases (+ + )in the control group, and there was significant difference between the two group (P=0.001). In the IC/BPS group, expression of Siglec-8 were 12 cases (-), 5 (+ ), 4 (+ + ), while in control group 7 cases (-), 2 (+ ), and 0 (+ + ), no statistically significant difference was found between the two group (P=0.214). The PUF score of the patients with IL-10 expression (-) was 19.7±2.1, lower than those with IL-10 (+ + ) (27.1+ 2.5, P<0.001). PUF of patients with IL-10 (+ ) was 22.7±1.8, lower than those with (+ + ) (P=0.001). The PUF score of IL-6 expression (-) was 21. The PUF score of IL-6 expression (+ ) was (23.2 + 3.2), lower than (+ + ) (26.7+ 3.1, P=0.025). The PUF score of (+ + ) IC/BPS patients was (26.6 ±2.4), higher than that of (+ ) IC/BPS patients (21.5±2.1, P<0.01). The PUF score of Siglec-8 expression (+ + ) and (+ ) in IC/BPS group was (21.3±2.0), lower than that of Siglec-8 (-) ( 27.0±2.3, P<0.01). Conclusions Mast cells and plasma cells were expressed in IC/BPS tissues. The expression of IL-6 and IL-10 was positively correlated with clinical symptoms, while the expression of Siglec-8 was negatively correlated with clinical symptoms. Key words: Interstitial cystitis/ bladder pain syndrome; Mast cell; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-10; Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins 8