Chronic pelvic pain is the hallmark of patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), a non- bacterial category of prostatitis that is a significant source of morbidity in American men. The etiology and pathogenesis of CPPS remains unknown but has been postulated to include a multitude of causes. The lack of convenient biomarkers and a better understanding of CPPS pathophysiology have complicated disease diagnosis and therapy. We identified MCP-1 and MIP-11 as potential biomarkers in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) of patients with CPPS. MCP-1 and MIP-11 levels in EPS identified CPPS patients with an accuracy of 90% and MIP-11 levels were correlated with the clinical pain subdomain score of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. We utilized quantitative measures of pelvic pain in murine models of prostatitis to characterize prostate-specific, chronic pelvic pain reminiscent of human CPPS. Intra-prostatic expression of MIP-11 and MCP-1 at 20 days was increased in the murine model. Anti-MCP-1 or anti-MIP-11 neutralizing antibody significantly reduced the development of chronic pelvic pain in mice with Anti-MCP-1 also being effective therapeutically. In addition to chemokine upregulation, increased numbers of mast cells that were activated was also observed. Taken together, these studies lead us to hypothesize that chemokines such as MCP-1 and MIP-11 contribute to the recruitment and activation of mast cells leading to peripheral neuronal sensitization and development of chronic pelvic pain. We will pursue our hypothesis with four specific aims. We will perform rigorous clinical studies to validate the use of MCP-1 and MIP-11 and mast cell tryptase as biomarkers for CPPS in humans and correlate their levels with CPPS symptoms. We will quantify mast cells and localize MCP-1 and MIP-11 expression in retrospectively collected human prostate tissue sections. The source of MCP-1 and MIP-11 expression and the role of mast cells will be dissected in the animal model. In vitro culture models will examine prostate-epithelia/stroma interactions with mast cells. Finally, we will test the efficacy of targeted therapies that inhibit MCP-1, MIP-11 and mast cell function in reducing chronic pelvic pain. This project will lay the ground for future translational studies of therapies that target the mechanisms underlying chronic pelvic pain in CPPS.

Public Health Relevance

Chronic pelvic pain is the hallmark of patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), a non-bacterial category of prostatitis that is a significant source of morbidity in American men. The cause of CPPS is unknown and there is a lack of convenient biomarkers for diagnosis of this syndrome. This project will validate biomarkers for the diagnosis of CPPS and also perform studies to understand the mechanisms behind disease symptoms. Finally, this project will test the efficacy of new therapies targeting chronic pelvic pain in animal models.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK083609-05
Application #
8703080
Study Section
Urologic and Kidney Development and Genitourinary Diseases Study Section (UKGD)
Program Officer
Bavendam, Tamara G
Project Start
2010-09-15
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2014-07-01
Budget End
2015-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Urology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60611
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