The pathophysiology of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is poorly understood.
Inflammatory and autoimmune mechanisms may play a role. We developed a murine model of experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) that mimics the human phenotype of CP/CPPS. Eight-wk old mice were immunized subcutaneously with prostate-specific peptides in an emulsion of complete Freund's adjuvant. Mice were euthanized 10d after immunization and lymph node cells were isolated and assessed for recall proliferation to each peptide. P25 99-118 was the most immunogenic peptide. T cell and B cell immunity and serum levels of C-reactive protein and nitrate/nitrite were evaluated over a nine-week period. Morphometric studies of the prostate, 24-hr micturition frequencies, and urine volume per void were evaluated. Tactile referred hyperalgesia was measured using von Frey Filaments to the pelvic region. Unpaired Student's t-test was used to analyze differences between groups for most studies and one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc test for differences in gene expression and pain data. Prostates from p25 99-118 immunized mice demonstrated elevated gene expression levels of TNFα, IL-17A, IFNγ, and IL-1β, not observed in control mice. Compared with controls, p25 99-118 immunized mice had significantly higher micturition frequency and decreased urine output per void, and demonstrated elevated pelvic pain response. p25 99-118 immunization of male SWXJ mice induced prostate specific autoimmunity characterized by prostate confined inflammation, increased micturition frequency, and pelvic pain. This autoimmune prostatitis model provides a useful tool for exploring the pathophysiology and new treatments.
Written by:
Altuntas CZ, Daneshgari F, Veizi E, Izgi K, Bicer F, Ozer A, Grimberg KO, Bakhautdin B, Sakalar C, Tasdemir C, Tuohy VK. Are you the author?
Reference: Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2013 Jan 23 (Epub ahead of print)
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23344231
