Role of NLRP3 inflammasome in the development of bladder pain syndrome interstitial cystitis

• Main Authors: Karol Borys Tudrej, Tomasz Piecha, Małgorzata Kozłowska-Wojciechowska
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-01-01
• Series: Therapeutic Advances in Urology
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/1756287218818030

Although it has been proposed that NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation may have an important contribution to the onset of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC), as of today there is still insufficient evidence to accept or to reject this hypothesis. However, taking into consideration that inflammasomes have been already shown as important mediators of cyclophosphamide-induced bladder inflammation and that some studies have also revealed human bladder epithelium expresses high levels of NLRP3, such a hypothesis seems to be reasonable. The purpose of this review is to discuss a scenario that NLRP3 inflammasome is a crucial player in the development of this disease. Identification of a novel mediator of bladder inflammation and pain could lead to emerging new therapeutic strategy and the first causative therapy.