The endogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) in the urinary bladder regulated type I collagen expression because the neutralizing NGF antibody attenuated cystitis-induced type I collagen up-regulation in the inflamed bladder.
The expression of NGF was significantly lower in the mucosa (p = 0.002) and L6 DRG (p = 0.01) in the cystitis-OND group compared to the cystitis-liposome group.
Also, both treatments reduced nerve growth factor expression in the bladder mucosa, reduced bladder inflammation characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells and increased bladder weight.
Intravesical Vessilen® treatment was able to ameliorate CYP induced bladder inflammation and pain by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB pathway and inflammatory mediator levels as well as reduced mechanical allodynia and nerve growth factor levels.
After initial studies linking of NGF to cystitis, it is now well-established that this neurotrophin (NT) is a key modulator of bladder pathologies, including Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis (BPS/IC) and Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS.