Purpose: We identified differentially expressed genes in the rabbit bladder after partial outlet obstruction.
Materials and methods: Differential display polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on smooth muscle tissue from normal, 2 and 6-week obstructed rabbit bladders. Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase PCR, Western and RNA blot analysis were done to confirm messenger RNA and protein up-regulation.
Results: A signal transducing protein human tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6)-like protein was identified on differential display PCR. TRAF6-like protein was up-regulated in rabbit bladders after 2 weeks of partial outlet obstruction. Reverse transcriptase PCR demonstrated TRAF6-like protein in bladder muscle tissue and semiquantitative analysis confirmed up-regulation in 2-week obstructed tissue. These findings were confirmed by RNA and Western blot analysis.
Conclusions: TRAF6-like protein is up-regulated during the early phase of bladder outlet obstruction in rabbits. To our knowledge involvement of this gene in bladder outlet obstruction has not been described previously. TRAF6 may have a role in the regulation of molecular changes during the early bladder response to outlet obstruction, such as the up-regulation of growth factors and proto-oncogenes. Further understanding of this signaling pathway and its role in bladder outlet obstruction may open new avenues for treating detrusor dysfunction.