Up-regulation of a gene homologous to the human tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 gene in the obstructed rabbit bladder determined by differential display polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract

We identified differentially expressed genes in the rabbit bladder after partial outlet obstruction. 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. 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. 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.