New Frontiers or the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome - Focused on Stem Cells, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Low-Energy Shock Wave

Prevalence of IC/BPS

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is defined as persistent or recurrent chronic pelvic pain or suprapubic discomfort perceived to originate from the urinary bladder accompanied with other urinary tract symptoms such as urgency or frequency [1,2]. Data on the prevalence of IC/BPS vary widely because of ongoing ambiguity in the definition, differences in the populations studied, and inconsistencies in diagnostic methods. The prevalence of IC/BPS was estimated to be 2.7% to 6.5% and 1.9% to 4.2% for US women and men, respectively [3,4]. Using the O’Leary-Sant definition of IC symptoms and problem index, the estimated prevalence among women in Finland was 300 per 100,000 [5,6]. The prevalence of IC/BPS in women was 0.261% and 0.129% in Korea and Taiwan, respectively [7,8].

Diagnosis of IC/BPS

Since patients present with a wide range of phenotypes and variable symptoms, they may be significantly misdiagnosed, as it is challenging for clinicians to diagnose IC/BPS. Symptom scores, such as the O’Leary-Sant symptom index, may help to assess patients and can serve as outcome measures for clinical studies. Cystoscopy with hydrodistention is recommended [9-12]. IC/BPS can be diagnosed in symptomatic patients after excluding cancer, infection, and certain other diseases [10]. Nevertheless, some differences exist in the recommended diagnostic evaluations between the European Association of Urology and the American Urological Association clinical guidelines. Cystoscopy is considered to be required as a diagnostic tool to differentiate between the ulcer and non-ulcer types [13].

Urothelial Dysfunction

The urothelium is characterized both by a highly specialized transitional epithelium forming the inner lining of the urinary bladder and an interface with a high-resistance barrier to ions [14]. Its lining, a protective layer of dense glycosaminoglycans, maintains impermeability to various solutes in the urine. Nevertheless, urothelial abnormalities could be noted based on cystoscopic findings of denudation or thinning, and glomerulations with or without Hunner ulcers in IC/BPS patients [15]. Furthermore, the abnormal expression of urothelial barrier proteins such as tight junction protein zonula occludens-1, uroplakin, E-cadherin, and chondroitin sulfate was observed in the bladders of patients with IC/BPS [16-18].

Increased Apoptosis

Previous studies have demonstrated that increased numbers of apoptotic cells and decreased numbers of proliferative cells were noted in IC bladder urothelium. Upregulation of inflammatory signals, originating from chronic inflammation in the suburothelium, can result in apoptosis in the bladders of patients with IC/BPS. Shie et al. [19] reported that the apoptotic signaling molecules, such as Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and Bad, were present at higher levels in IC/BPS bladders, and the mechanism of apoptosis was mediated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and p38 MAPK [20].

Mast Cell Activation and Neurogenic Inflammation

In patients with IC/BPS, the bladder has been found to have an increased number of mast cells, which released inflammatory mediators such as histamine and cytokines in response to activation [21], and a more permeable urothelium promoting the influx of potassium ions, with consequent C-afferent fiber activation [22]. The cascade of mast cell activation plays an important role in IC/BPS symptoms, and forms the basis for the use of antihistamines for the treatment of IC/BPS. In addition, the urothelium can release a number of neural signaling molecules, such as adenosine triphosphate and nerve growth factor, which subsequently activate submucosal afferent nerves and mast cells [22,23]. These feedback loops result in chronic voiding and pain symptoms, as well as structural changes of the bladder wall in IC/BPS [24].

Central Sensitization

Central sensitization is a phenomenon of the nervous system that involves enhanced responsiveness of the central neurons, even without ongoing nociceptive stimulation from the periphery. Visceral pain may also arise from continuous activation of dorsal horn neurons in the spinal cord, which can induce pain long after inflammation or other problems of the pelvis are cured [25]. This phenomenon explains why some patients with IC/BPS still have significant pain after undergoing cystectomy.

Mechanism of Stem Cells in the Treatment of IC/BPS

Stem cells are defined as having the ability to self-renew and to differentiate into lineages of the ectoderm (e.g., epithelium and neuron), mesoderm (e.g., muscle and stroma), and endoderm (e.g., endothelium) [27]. Consequently, the concept of using stem cells for IC/BPS was originally based on the hypothesis that stem cell transplantation into the bladder might replenish the damaged epithelium and neurons [28]. However, more recently, another hypothesis has emerged, according to which transplanted stem cells might provide therapeutic benefits through the paracrine release of anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic, antiapoptotic, and/or antioxidative factors [29]. Furthermore, these paracrine bioactive factors are also believed to have the ability to enhance the expression of stem cell trafficking genes, leading to the recruitment of endogenous stem cells to the damaged tissues [30]. In addition, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to possess immunomodulatory properties; therefore, they can be transplanted allogeneically or xenogeneically into immunocompetent recipients without the use of immunosuppressants [31]. Due to the lack of reliable tracking molecules/reagents to demonstrate engraftment and/or differentiation of transplanted stem cells, the therapeutic mechanism of stem cells remains controversial. At present, the paracrine effects of transplanted stem cells seem to be more prominent because of their stimulation of the host’s own stem cells and adjacent cells [28,32].

Types of Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine

Stem cells are classified according to their developmental capacity. Pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into all 3 embryonic germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm), whereas multipotent stem cells are able to differentiate into specific cell types [33,34]. Although embryonic stem cells (ESCs), which are derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst and are an example of pluripotent stem cells, exhibit unlimited differentiation potential both in vitro and in vivo, and could therefore constitute the ultimate source for the generation of various tissues [33], there are significant concerns about their ethical ramifications and their tendency to differentiate into malignant tissues [35]. Another interesting cell type for possible future therapeutic applications is induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which are usually fibroblasts reprogrammed by the introduction of a set of embryonic transcription factors, although teratoma formation has limited their clinical use [36]. Similar to ESCs, iPS cells exhibit high risks of becoming malignant [37]. Therefore, the development of stem cell therapy in the specialty of urology in particular is mostly confined to MSCs, which are multipotent stem cells that are isolated from adult tissues (e.g., bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, adipose tissue, and dental pulp) [28,32,38].

Preclinical Studies

To date, there has been little research on the use of stem cell therapy for IC/BPS, and extant research is mostly limited to animal studies. In 2015, Song et al. [39] reported the therapeutic effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (UCB-MSCs) in a hydrochloric acid (HCl)-induced IC/BPS rat model . These investigators injected 1×10⁶ human UCB-MSCs into the injured bladder and then assessed the outcomes using conscious cystometry. They found that UCB-MSCs significantly improved epithelial denudation, neurofilament production, and angiogenesis, while decreasing the inflammatory response and mast cell infiltration. Furthermore, they demonstrated that the injected stem cells stimulated urothelial regeneration of the bladder in patients with IC/BPS through the Wnt and epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling pathways. In 2018, Xie et al. [40] reported similar results after performing intravenous injections of 1×10⁶ UCB-MSCs in a cyclophosphamide-induced rat model. They further demonstrated that UCB-MSCs activated the EGF-dependent AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in a cell co-culture model.

In 2016, Hirose et al. [41] presented the healing effects of dental pulp-derived MSCs (DP-MSCs; 2×10⁶, injected into the bladder) in a rat model of HCl-induced cystitis. They found that DP-MSCs promoted the healing of damaged bladder tissue through trophic factors, such as fibroblast growth factor 2, vascular endothelial growth factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, growth-related oncogene, and fractalkine.

In 2018, Furuta et al. [42] reported the effects of bladder wall injection of 1 ×10⁶ adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) in a HCl-induced IC/BPS rat model. They found that bladder capacity and voiding threshold pressure significantly increased in rats treated with AD-MSCs. Furthermore, bladder injection of AD-MSCs significantly decreased nociceptive behavior, mast cell infiltration, and the expression of TNF-α, transforming growth factor-beta, and collagen fibers.

Although stem cells have successfully alleviated IC/BPS in rat models, the process of obtaining these stem cells is very complicated. In 2017, Li et al. [43] reported the therapeutic effects of urine-derived MSCs (UD-MSCs), isolated from human voided urine, in a protamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced IC/BPS rat model. They found that an intravenous injection of 1.2 ×10⁶ UD-MSCs restored bladder function by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, and apoptosis. Thus, it appears that UD-MSCs are more advantageous over other stem cell types in that they can be obtained through a simple, noninvasive, and low-cost approach that does not require a surgical procedure.

As discussed above, several preclinical studies have reported that MSCs are a practical source of cells for treating IC/BPS. However, their limited proliferation during large-scale ex vivo expansion suggests that alternative cell sources are needed to obtain sufficient cell numbers with an appropriate lineage potential to treat patients with IC/BPS. ESCs exhibit unlimited differentiation potential both in vitro and in vivo and can be expanded ex vivo as immortalized cell lines [33]. In 2017, Kim et al. [44] demonstrated that human ESCs can provide almost unlimited multipotent stem cells through spontaneous or controlled differentiation. In a HCl-induced rat model, a single injection of human ESC-derived multipotent stem cells had greater therapeutic efficiency than bone marrow-derived MSCs in reversing urothelium denudation, mast cell infiltration, tissue fibrosis, apoptosis, and visceral hypersensitivity, without any adverse effects. In 2018, Ryu et al. [45] further monitored the behaviors of transplanted human ESC-derived multipotent stem cells in real time using a combination of longitudinal intravital confocal fluorescence imaging and microcystoscopy in a chronic protamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced IC/BPS rat model. They found that the transplanted cells improved voiding function and repaired tissue damage by differentiation into multiple cell types and gradually integrated into a perivascularlike structure.

Although preclinical trials have provided ample data on the utilization of stem cells for regenerative medicine and tissue repair strategies, concerns have been raised that stem cell transplantation may have undesirable consequences, such as malignancy formation. To alleviate such concerns, recent studies have focused on using MSC-conditioned medium, and as reviewed by Adamowicz et al. [46], many growth factors, cytokines, and trophic agents in MSC-conditioned medium can contribute to the amelioration of IC/BPS pathology and create a favorable environment for the regeneration of bladder tissue. Table 1 summarizes the results of preclinical studies.

Table 1.

Summary of preclinical studies on stem cell therapy for cystitis models mimicking IC/BPS

Although the pathophysiology of IC/BPS remains controversial, hypotheses include urothelial dysfunction, increased apoptosis, mast cell activation, neurogenic inflammation, and central sensitization. However, all of the above preclinical studies used bladder-centric rat models created by intravesical instillation with chemicals to induce the clinical characteristics of IC/BPS, which are not expected to fully reproduce the various symptoms experienced by human patients.

Clinical Trials

Although the potential of stem cell therapy for IC/BPS has been reported in many preclinical models, stem cell therapy is not yet available for clinical use. To date, only 1 clinical trial has assessed the efficacy of stem cells for IC/BPS. In 2019, Lander et al. [47] investigated the effect of combined intravenous and local injections of autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) into the pelvic floor in 91 women and 18 men with IC/BPS. Although that study demonstrated that SVF, as an autologous personalized regenerative strategy, showed good safety and efficacy and may have the potential to alleviate IC/BPS, the major limitations were the lack of a control group, inconsistent transplantation cell number, inconsistent cell injection routes in male patients, lack of information on the molecular mechanisms of SVF therapy, and the absence of long-term data. Larger, multicenter, long-term, randomized clinical trials are warranted to elucidate the efficiency of SVF in patients with IC/BPS.

What is PRP?

PRP is a biological product defined as the portion of the plasma fraction of autologous blood with a platelet concentration above the baseline blood plasma [48]. Generally, the preparation of PRP involves obtaining autologous whole blood from the patient, followed by centrifugation and the use of different density gradients to separate plasma from red blood cells and leukocytes. There are several commercial devices available that simplify the preparation of PRP. According to the manufacturers, PRP devices usually achieve a concentration of PRP 2–5 times the baseline concentration. As such, PRP contains not only a high level of platelets, but also the full complement of clotting factors. PRP is rich in a range of growth factors, chemokines, cytokines, and other proteins. The therapeutic effects of PRP on different pathologies may depend on the presence or absence of leukocytes, the activation status of platelets, fibrin architecture, and platelet concentration. Although one might think that a higher platelet count with a higher number of growth factors would lead to better results, this has not been determined yet. The DEPA (dose, efficiency, purity, activation) classification proposed by Magalon et al. [49] may help clinicians to select a PRP product that fits their specific needs for a given indication.

Mechanism of Action of PRP in IC/BPS

PRP contains numerous growth and cytokines that potentially offer an alternative treatment modality to assist in the healing of bladder mucosa injuries [50]. Platelets develop from bone marrow and contain precursors that can divide and mature. The main function of platelets is to contribute to homeostasis through 3 processes: adhesion, activation, and aggregation [48]. When a vascular lesion is present, platelets are activated, and their granules release factors that promote coagulation. PRP is a natural source of signaling molecules, and upon activation of the platelets in PRP, the P-granules are degranulated, releasing growth factors and cytokines that modify the pericellular microenvironment. Some of the most important growth factors released by platelets in PRP are vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, EGF, hepatocyte growth factor, insulin-like factor 1 and 2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9, and interleukin (IL)-8 [48,50,51]. PRP promotes 4 main actions (proliferation, migration, cell differentiation, and angiogenesis) in the local environment where it is administered.

The precise mechanism by which PRP promotes bladder healing in IC/BPS is not fully understood. IC may result from urothelial barrier dysfunction, which initiates a cascade of neurogenic inflammation [50]. As a result, chronic inflammation and bladder fibrosis would elicit bladder pain and a small bladder capacity. PRP injections into the bladder might provide several growth factors that promote cell proliferation, regeneration, and differentiation to heal the urothelium. PRP may also activate additional inflammatory signaling by its cytokines and leukocytes, switching to an anti-inflammatory phenotype and releasing anti-inflammatory factors. Thus, PRP injections into the bladder might enhance tissue angiogenesis and eliminate refractory neuropathic pain (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2.

Therapeutic potential of intravesical injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in treating interstitial cystitis (IC). PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor; EGF, epidermal growth factor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; TGF, transforming growth factor; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; ATP, adenosine triphosphate.

Therapeutic Effects of PRP on IC/BPS

It has been demonstrated that rabbits’ bladders, insulted by HCl bladder instillation or intraperitoneal cyclophosphamide injection, could be protected by subsequent instillation of PRP into the bladder [52]. PRP treatment can initiate cell proliferation above the basement membrane and protect the urothelium by 48 hours after instillation.

In a pilot clinical study, Jhang et al. [53] performed intravesical injections of PRP 4 times in 1 month (12 mL extracted from 50 mL of whole blood) in 15 refractory IC/BPS patients and found that PRP improved IC symptoms at 1 month of follow-up . No obvious adverse effects were observed in this preliminary study. In addition, the significant posttreatment increases of urinary IL-2 and IL-8 in these IC patients suggest that immune modulation of PRP may play a role in the relief of IC/BPS symptoms. In a subsequent clinical trial, Jhang et al. [54] further reported the outcomes of IC patients who received repeated PRP (10 mL extracted from 50 mL of whole blood) intravesical injections 4 times in 1 month. In that study, 67.5% of IC participants showed improvement of IC/BPS symptoms and increased functional capacity at a 3-month follow-up. Hence, the intravesical injection of autologous RPR is promising for treating IC/BPS. The major disadvantage is the need for anesthesia during PRP injection. In summary, intravesical injections of PRP could be a potential treatment for IC/BPS patients, in terms of wound healing, tissue regeneration, and immune modulation. However, there is no consensus regarding PRP preparation or the precise mechanism underlying its effects. Currently, the therapeutic use of PRP in IC/BPS patients is still experimental. Further largescale randomized clinical trials are needed to verify the effects of PRP and its mechanisms of action in IC/PBS.

Characteristics of Shock Waves

Shock waves (SWs) are acoustic waves that carry energy from an area of positive pressure to an area of negative pressure, which requires a medium (either water or a coupling gel) for propagation in humans. The kinetic energy of SW induces a cavitation effect, followed by a mechanical shear force on the target tissue, causing biological effects. The characteristics of SW include a high peak pressure (up to 100 MPa), a rapid rise (<10 ns), a short duration (<10 msec), and a broad frequency spectrum (in the range of 16 Hz to 20 MHz) [55,56]. The generation of SW induces a micrometer-sized intense burst of bubbles within and outside of cells, and exerts energy toward the target body tissues [57,58]. SW can be used to target tissues at various depths of penetration, levels of energy flux density (mJ/mm²), total energy administration, and focal volumes.

SW at high-energy levels induce irreversible alterations to the cell structure and organelles [58-61]; however, SW at low-energy levels induce a series of cell signaling pathways and activate biological processes such as angiogenesis, cell proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, peripheral nerve regeneration, and antiinflammation through various mechanisms, depending on tissue type and condition. Nevertheless, studies of dose-response relationships between the intensity of SW and their biological effects remain inadequate.

Rationale for LESW for IC/BPS

Although the etiology and pathogenesis of IC/BPS are still undetermined, there is increasing support for the hypothesis of neurogenic inflammation, according to which activation of bladder afferent nerves provokes bladder pain and hypersensitivity [62]. Increased apoptosis in the urothelium and levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α have been shown to be mediated by inflammation in IC/BPS [19,63]. Therefore, the regulation of inflammatory reactions and the regeneration or repair of urothelium defects could be an attractive option for the management of IC.

High-energy extracorporeal SW therapy has been used to disintegrate urolithiases for 30 years [64]. LESW therapy is used clinically to improve tissue regeneration at tendon-bone junctions, to treat ischemic cardiovascular disorders, and to ameliorate erectile dysfunction [65-67]. LESW therapy has been shown to generate some growth factors or cytokines, to recruit or activate progenitor cells (adult stem cells), and to increase levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the wound or injured organ [65]. In addition, LESW treatment has been suggested as a potentially useful tool for down-regulating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and NF-κB-dependent inflammatory genes, leading to the modulation of the inflammatory process [68].

Our previous study has demonstrated that LESW treatment inhibited nerve growth factor, IL-6, and cyclooxygenase-2 expression, and blocked bladder pain, inflammation, and overactivity in a cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis model in rats [69]. Chen et al. [70] revealed that LESW significantly alleviated bladder damage by ameliorating inflammation (decreased expression of IL-12, MMP-9, TNF-a, NF-κB, and inducible nitric oxide synthase) and oxidative stress (decreased NADPH oxidase 1 and NOX-2 expression) by using different doses of LESW and cyclophosphamide.

In addition, LESW therapy has been shown to augment the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, downregulate production of proinflammatory cytokines, and improve wound healing [71]. Yu et al. [72] showed that SW therapy attenuated H9c2 myoblast apoptosis by activating the AKT signaling pathway. Zhang et al. [73] demonstrated that LESW downgraded acute myocardial infarction in rats by suppressing the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Taken together, LESW therapy has the potential to counteract inflammation, inhibit apoptosis, and promote tissue regeneration in injured tissue.

Zimmermann et al. [74] reported that LESW significantly improved pelvic pain and micturition, as well as erectile function and quality of life, compared with the control group. Yuan et al. [75] performed a systemic review of 6 publications involving 5 randomized controlled trials with 280 patients. They concluded that LESW achieved great efficacy for the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome at the endpoint and during follow-up for 4 and 12 weeks. There were no significant side effects in these studies.

Therefore, we hypothesized that LESW may generate some growth factors or cytokines, and that inhibiting inflammatory reactions and apoptosis might also have therapeutic effects on patients with IC/BPS. Recently, Chuang et al. [76] reported a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of extracorporeal SW therapy for IC/BPS. They found no difference in the mean change in IC/BPS symptoms between the LESW and placebo groups. However, a significantly higher proportion of patients who received LESW responded, as shown by an improvement in the visual analogue scale (VAS) of ≥3 points versus placebo (P=0.035). At 12 weeks posttreatment, 57.1% of patients in the LESW group showed improvement in the VAS of ≥3 points, versus 19.0% in the placebo group (P=0.011). This finding was associated with an improvement in frequency (LESW group: -1.0±2.3 vs. placebo: 0.7± 3.2; P=0.065). No significant adverse events were found in either group. We suggest that LESW might reduce bladder pain in IC/BPS patients. More advanced basic science research and clinical trials are warranted before LESW can be widely used for the treatment of IC/BPS.