Changes in transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 and transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction

Abstract

Purpose We investigated the association between transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) expression in human urothelium tissue and lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). Materials and Methods We prospectively enrolled men who planned to undergo surgical treatment for benign prostatic obstruction to analyze TRPV1 and TRPV4 expression in the urothelium using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence staining. Patients were divided into two groups based on urodynamics: the detrusor underactivity (DU) group and the non-DU group. Levels of TRPV1 and TRPV4 were compared between the two groups. We also divided patients into two groups according to degree of subjective urinary urgency symptoms using a 5-point urinary sensation scale and compared the differences in TRPV1 and TRPV4 levels between the two groups. The correlations between urodynamic parameters with TRPV1 or TRPV 4 in all patients were also analyzed. Results The levels of TRPV1 and TRPV 4 were not significantly different between the DU group (n=10) and the non-DU group (n=11). When we divided the patients according to degree of subjective urgency, the level of TRPV1 was not significantly different between the urgency group (n=10) and the non-urgency group (n =11), but the level of TRPV4 was significantly increased in the urgency group (p=0.029). There was no significant correlation between the level of TRPV1 or TRPV4 and urodynamic parameters in any patients. Conclusions TRPV4 could be a useful diagnostic biomarker for patients with LUTD.

Mechanotransduction in the urothelium: ATP signalling and mechanoreceptors

“…However, this elevation of TRPV4 expression was confirmed in bladder mucosa samples from patients suffering from ketamine cystitis associated with OAB [ 151 ]. Nevertheless, TRPV4 expression in the mucosa from DU patients did not change noticeably, and the correlation with urodynamic parameters was not significant [ 218 ]. It is difficult to provide a plausible explanation for these results at present, and more investigations are needed to determine the TRPV4-related pathological mechanisms underlying these two diametrically opposed clinical consequences.…”