Mast cell function in prostate inflammation, fibrosis, and smooth muscle cell dysfunction

Intraurethral inoculation of mice with uropathogenic E.coli results in prostate inflammation, fibrosis, and urinary dysfunction, recapitulating some but not all of the pathognomonic clinical features associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms. In both patients with LUTS and in CP1-infected mice, we observed increased numbers and activation of mast cells and elevated levels of prostate fibrosis. Therapeutic inhibition of mast cells using a combination of mast cell stabilizer , cromolyn sodium, and the histamine 1 receptor antagonist , cetirizine di-hydrochloride, in the mouse model resulted in reduced mast cell activation in the prostate and significant alleviation of urinary dysfunction...