Differential expression of histamine receptors in the bladder wall tissues of patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis – significance in the responsiveness to antihistamine treatment and disease symptoms

BACKGROUND: Activation of mast cells plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). Histamine, a mast cell-derived mediators, induced inflammation and hypersensitivity of the bladder. The present study investigated the expressions of histamine receptors in the bladder wall tissues of patients with BPS/IC, and its association with the effectiveness of antihistamine therapy and disease symptoms. METHODS: Bladder tissues were collected from 69 BPS/IC patients and 10 control female patients. The expression of H3R in BPS/IC was further examined in an independent cohort of 10 female patients with BPS/IC and another 10 age-matched female patients. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and quantitative RT-PCR were performed to quantify the expressions of histamine receptors. Statistical analyses of the correlation of histamine receptor expression with antihistamine therapy outcome and severity of disease symptoms were also performed. RESULTS: The expression of four histamine receptors was significantly elevated in BPS/IC (H1R, P < 0.001; H2R, P = 0.031; H3R, P = 0.008; H4R, P = 0.048). Western blotting revealed that H3R were significantly reduced in the patients, whereas the mRNA levels of H3R were significantly increased. The patients were further divided into antihistamine responders (n = 38) and nonresponders (n = 22). No significant correlation was found in the expression of histamine receptors between responder and nonresponder groups. However, significant correlations between OLS and H1R (P = 0.003) and H3R (P = 0.045) were found. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that expression of all the 4 histamine receptors were elevated in BPS/IC. There were no statistical significant correlations between the expression levels of the four different histamine receptors and the treatment outcome of antihistamine therapy (amtitriptyline or cimetidine).