Methodological variations between these two studies can explain t

Methodological variations between these two studies can explain those differences. Nevertheless, GSI-IX purchase IL-8 secretion caused by E2348/69 infection was in the same range in both cell lines (0–300 ng/ml). On the other hand, IL-1β secretion at 2 h was 50% lower during E22 infection than with E2348/69. IL-8 secretion by E22-infected

cells was constant, but not as high as at 2 h of E2348/69 infection. These results indicate a delayed and/or weaker cellular response to E22 infection and could be because of poor initial adherence (data not shown). EPEC E22 infection induced high and constant secretion of TNF-α, and E2348/69 displayed limited TNF-α secretion at 4 h of infection. It is important to have in mind that TNF-α release could be associated not only to inflammation but also to altered transport of water and electrolytes, and loss of epithelial resistance. Translocated effectors (T3SS) are differentially required for cytokine release: TNF-α decreases only slightly, IL-8 decreases to 50%, and IL-1β secretion is almost abolished. Loss of intimin at 4 h infection

caused a decreased secretion of the three cytokines, being the more dramatic effect in the case of IL-1β. We found a dual effect for intimin in TNF-α release: during initial adherence, it limits TNF-α secretion; whereas during intimate adherence, it increases TNF-α release. Attenuated TNF-α secretion during E22ΔespA infection (4 h) reinforces buy JNK inhibitor the effect of intimate adherence in the secretion of this cytokine. Interestingly, for IL-1β secretion, flagellin caused the opposite effect of intimin and E22ΔfliC infection stimulated IL-1β secretion while

E22Δeae reduced its liberation. Flagellin is absolutely necessary for IL-8 secretion, as previously reported [24]. Flagellin is also essential for TNF-α secretion at 4 h but not at 2 h, where its participation is limited. These results emphasize EPEC FliC importance in the immune response activation, but indicate complex mechanism that transcends the passive contact of flagellin and TLR5. Our results highlight that besides flagellin, EPEC intimate adherence is important to modulate the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. ERK1/2 nuclear translocation this website and IL-1β and IL-8 secretion are severely impaired during infection with E22 T3SS mutants. These results are consistent with a report that links MAPK activation and IL-8 secretion during E2348/69 infection [49]. It was recently shown that in Salmonella-infected macrophages, IL-1β secretion is activated by cytoplasmic flagellin detection – via Ipaf – in a TLR5 independent fashion. Such activation depends on FliC secretion by Salmonella T3SS [50]. EPEC T3SS mutations reversibly decrease FliC secretion [4], and T3SS can translocate flagellin into infected cells [51].

Immunostained cells were analysed using a fluorescence activated

Immunostained cells were analysed using a fluorescence activated cell sorter [(FACS)Calibur, Becton Dickinson, San Jose, CA, USA]. Analysis of the Th17 cell population was Palbociclib nmr performed

by gating on CD3+CD8– T cells. Total RNA was extracted from PBMCs or TMCs using TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen). Total RNA was isolated and reverse transcription was performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Toyobo, Osaka, Japan). Quantitative real-time PCR was performed by triplicate using Bio-Rad SYBR green super mix (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA). Primer sequences were as follows: retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt), sense, 5′-CCTGGGCTCCTCGCCTGACC-3′, anti-sense, 5′-TCTCTCTGCCCTCAGCCTTGCC-3′; and β-actin, sense, 5′-CACGAAACTACCTTCAACTCC-3′, anti-sense, 5′-CATACTCCTGCTTGCTGATC-3′. Samples were run in triplicate, and their relative expression was determined by normalizing to the expression level of β-actin. Data were analysed using Bio-Rad CFX Manager software. In the case of TMCs, leptin, IL-17 and RORγt cDNA products were amplified by PCR with

the following primer sequences: leptin, sense, 5′-TCCTGGGCTCCACCCCATCC-3′, anti-sense, 5′-TGCAGAGACCCCTGCAGCCT-3′; and IL-17, sense, 5′-CAAGACTGAACACCGACTAAG-3′, anti-sense, 5′-TCTCCAAAGGAAGCCTGA-3′. Amplified products were electrophoresed on 2% agarose gel (Invitrogen), stained with ethidium bromide and visualized with ultraviolet transilluminator. One-way analysis of variance (anova) was performed to determine whether there was an overall statistically significant change among the groups, and the post-test comparison was carried out using Bonferroni’s test. Student’s Kinase Inhibitor high throughput screening Sodium butyrate unpaired t-test was performed as appropriate. Correlations between variables were determined by Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Data were analysed with GrapPad Prism version 5 software. We first compared the basal plasma leptin levels of 27 female HT patients with 22 age-, sex- and BMI-matched female healthy controls. It was found that HT patients showed an increase of leptin which was at the border of statistical significance (P = 0·06, Fig. 1a). Subsequently, we analysed the correlation

between the level of plasma leptin and BMI in HT patients and healthy controls. The results showed that plasma leptin correlated positively with BMI in healthy controls, but no correlation was observed in HT patients (Fig. 1b,c). Furthermore, the level of leptin in culture of CD4+ T cells from HT patients was higher than that from healthy controls (Fig. 1d). Flow cytometric analysis revealed that an increased proportion of Th17 cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was observed in HT patients compared with healthy controls (Fig. 2a,b). There were no statistically significant correlations between plasma leptin concentrations and the percentage of Th17 cells or the level of RORγt in HT patients (Fig. 2c,d).

Mean area of gelatin degradation was quantified by counting a deg

Mean area of gelatin degradation was quantified by counting a degraded area in 15–20 different fields containing approximately the same number of cell nuclei. For Matrigel migration assays, BMDMs were detached and starved in DMEM without serum for a total of 3 h. After 2 h of starving, the cells were labeled with the fluorescent dye Celltracker Blue CMAC (Invitrogen) according to the producer instruction. A total of 105 cells in DMEM without serum were then plated on BioCoat Matrigel Invasion Chambers (BD Biosciences) for 24 h. Nonmigrated cells were removed and migrated cells were counted by reading the fluorescence on the bottom side of the inserts with a Victor Multilabel

Plate Reader (PerkinElmer). For trans-endothelial migration assays, H5V cells, an epithelial cell line kindly provided by E. Dejana (FIRC Institute Epigenetics inhibitor of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy) were plated on FluoroBlok Inserts (Falcon) for 3 days until they formed a confluent monolayer, and then activated with 5 ng/mL TNF for 2 h in DMEM. BIBW2992 A total of 105 BMDMs labeled with Celltracker Blue CMAC (Invitrogen) as above described for Matrigel assays, and resuspended in DMEM without serum, were then plated on FluoroBlok inserts coated with TNF-activated H5V cells for 22 h. Percentage of migrated cells was calculated by reading the fluorescence

with a Victor Multilabel Plate Reader (PerkinElmer). Cell migration in 2D was assessed by scraping a confluent monolayer of BMDMs with a pipette tip. Then the number of cells migrating into the open space was assessed microscopically [[12]]. Quantification of migrated cells was performed counting cells migrated into the wound in ten different fields. Cells were lysed with sample buffer: 25 mM Tris, pH 6.8, 50 mM β-mercaptoethanol, 1% SDS and 5% glycerol and then analyzed with Odyssey Infrared Imaging Gefitinib ic50 System (Li-cor Biosciences, Nebraska, USA) using specific antibodies. The Student’s t-test has been applied to examine the statistical significance of differences between the data. Values of *p < 0.05 or **p < 0.01, ***p

< 0.001 were taken as significant. This work was supported by a grant from Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC) to GB (grant 2010). The authors are indebted to Clifford A Lowell (UCSF) for having made available to them mice with the genetic deficiency of Hck and/or Fgr generated in his laboratory. The authors declare no financial or commercial conflict of interest. Disclaimer: Supplementary materials have been peer-reviewed but not copyedited. "
“Macrophages (Mϕ) are professional antigen-presenting cells, but when they accumulate at sites of inflammation, they can inhibit T-cell proliferation. In experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis, this limits the expansion of T cells within the target organ.

The high-level proliferative responses observed in our study migh

The high-level proliferative responses observed in our study might reflect the fact that BP is an intra-epithelial vulvar and perineal cutaneous and mucosal disease that progresses exceptionally to invasive carcinoma. Indeed,

the evolution of BP towards invasive carcinoma is present in fewer Selleckchem Hydroxychloroquine than 3–4% of patients [2,3], whereas CIN3 evolves towards invasion in about 15% of cases [6]. Among 18 large peptides of the proteins E6 and E7, two were recognized in proliferative assays as immunodominant by T cells from 10 of 16 women (62%) at entry into the present study, namely E6/2 (aa 14–34) and E6/4 (aa 45–68). Four other peptides, E6/7 (aa 91–110), E7/2 (aa 7–27), E7/3 (aa 21–40) and E7/7 (aa 65–87), were recognized by only 12% of the women in proliferative or ELISPOT–IFN-γ tests. The E6 and E7 protein regions implicated in T cell recognition during HPV infection have not yet been well defined because Copanlisib cost of the usually low frequency of anti-HPV blood T cell responses and of the difficulties in studying them. In protein E6, some peptides, including or overlapping our peptides E6/2 (aa 14–34) and E6/4 (aa 45–68), have already been described as recognized preferentially by CD4+ T cells. Among them, peptide E6 42–57, that is restricted by the HLA-DR7

molecule, has already been identified [34]. Regions E6 1–31, 22–51 and 24–45 can be also immunogenic for CD4+ T cells, as shown in CIN or sexually active healthy women [35]. Region E6 42–71, which includes peptide E6/4 (aa 45–68), has also been described as a target of proliferative responses

in CIN patients [35]. Another E6111–158 region was described previously as inducing proliferative responses in infected asymptomatic subjects or in patients with CIN3 [33,35], as well as E6127–141 peptide in healthy young women [36]. Similarly, peptides E7 43–77, E7 50–62 and E7 58–68, which are restricted by DR3, DR15 and DR17, respectively, were defined as epitopic peptides for CD4+ T cells [34,37,38], and E7 region 51–98, only including our E7/7 (aa 65–87) peptide, is also very immunogenic for proliferating T lymphocytes [22,23,31]. The characterization of E6 and E7 HPV-16 epitopes and the HLA restriction of their recognition by CD8+ T lymphocytes are more precise: E6 29–38, E7 11–20, E7 82–90 and E7 86–93 epitopes are presented by HLA-A2 [39–41], E6 80–88 and E7 44–52 by HLA-B18 [27] and E6 49–57 by HLA-A24 [42]. In women who cleared HPV-16 infection, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses are directed against epitopes located preferentially in the N-terminal half of the E6 protein (region 16–40) [43].

As a second approach to test our hypothesis, we compared the capa

As a second approach to test our hypothesis, we compared the capability of cutaneous DC that do or do not express functional Fas to prime Selleck KU57788 effector CD8+ T cells for CHS responses. DC were purified from the skin-draining LN of DNFB-sensitized WT or lpr

mice and were transferred intradermally into naïve WT mice as previously described 15, 16. The magnitude of CHS responses induced by transfer of DC isolated from DNFB-sensitized WT mice decreased to background levels at 120 h post-challenge. In contrast, the magnitude of CHS responses in mice receiving DC from Fas-defective lpr mice was markedly increased and sustained (Fig. 4A, *p<0.05). The characteristics of these CHS responses correlated with the magnitude of hapten-specific CD8+ T-cell development in the skin-draining LN of DC-transferred mice. At day +5 post-transfer, hapten-specific CD8+ T cells producing IFN-γ were easily detectable in mice primed with WT DC, but within 2 days (i.e. day +7 post-transfer), the number of these CD8+ T cells decreased more than three-fold (Fig.

4B). In contrast, considerably higher numbers of hapten-specific CD8+ T cells producing IFN-γ were observed on day +5 in the LN of mice primed with lpr DC (Fig. 4B, WT DC versus lpr DC, *p<0.05), and these numbers continued to increase Erlotinib by day +7 post-transfer. Thus, the augmented

and prolonged ear swelling responses observed in mice primed with Fas-defective DC correlated with increased and sustained numbers of hapten-specific CD8+ T cells Abiraterone ic50 producing IFN-γ in the LN. These results were consistent with negative regulation of DC priming functions in CHS responses through Fas–FasL. To directly test whether regulatory CD4+CD25+ cells utilize Fas–FasL interactions to inhibit activation of hapten-specific CD8+ T cells by Fas-expressing DC, immune CD8+ T cells from sensitized WT mice were cultured with hapten-presenting DC purified from sensitized WT or lpr mice in the presence of naïve WT CD4+CD25+ or CD4+CD25− cells and IFN-γ production by the immune CD8+ T cells was assessed by ELISA. To assess the possibility that CD4+CD25− or CD4+CD25+ cells produce IFN-γ during this culture, we tested IFN-γ production by immune CD8+ T cells cultured with hapten-presenting DC only. The results indicated that additional amounts of IFN-γ were not produced when CD8+ T cells were cultured with DC and CD4+CD25− T cells when compared with CD8+ T cell/DC cultures (Fig. 5A). In fact IFN-γ production was slightly decreased in CD8+ T cell/DC/CD4+CD25− T-cell cultures, although this was not a significant decrease and most likely due to competition between the T cells for access to the DC.

Cells were incubated with fluorescent mAbs at 4°C for 1 h, then w

Cells were incubated with fluorescent mAbs at 4°C for 1 h, then washed twice in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing 2·0% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and fixed in 1·0% paraformaldehyde. Data were collected using FACSCalibur (BD Biosciences), and data analysis was performed using CellQuest software (BD Biosciences). FcαRIR209L/FcRγ Tg mice genomic DNA was extracted from mouse tails. PCR was performed using puReTaq Ready-To-Go PCR Beads (Amersham

MLN2238 Bioscience, Amersham, UK). The following groups were studied. In group 1, mice received 80 µl normal saline once daily intraperitoneally. In group 2, mice were injected with 4 mg of horse spleen apoferritin (HAF; Sigma Aldrich Chemicals) in 80 µl of 0·1 M sodium chloride once daily intraperitoneally for 14 consecutive days. Mice in this group received 100 µl of normal saline intraperitoneally

at 8 h after the Selleck Fer-1 HAF injection at days 7 and 8. In group 3, HAF was administered once daily as above. At days 7 and 8, 40 µg of endotoxin-free CpG-ODN 1668 (Invitrogen) in 100 µl of saline was administered intraperitoneally. In group 4, HAF was administered once daily as above. At days 7 and 8, 20 µg of MIP-8a in 200 µl of saline was administered via the caudal

vein after 40 µg of endotoxin-free CpG-ODN administered intraperitoneally. In group 5, HAF was administered once daily as above. At days 7 and 8, 20 µg of control IgG in 200 µl of saline was administered via the caudal vein after CpG-ODN intraperitoneally. At day 14, samples and renal tissues were collected. Urine samples were collected at days 0, 7, 9 and 14 in the morning. Urinary albumin was Meloxicam measured by immunoassay (DCA 2000 system; Bayer Diagnostics, Elkhart, IN, USA). Measurement of albuminuria is useful for detection of beginning of glomerular injury. This occurs before increasing of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) or creatinine values that sometimes mean renal failure. Blood samples were collected from each mouse at the end of the study from the retro-orbital venous plexus under general anaesthesia with inhaled ether. TNF-α, MCP-1 and RANTES levels were measured by ELISA (R&D Systems), according to the manufacturer’s protocol. For light microscopy, the sections were cut at 3 µm and then stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reagent after paraffin embedding.

pylori leads to the production of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-23 and

pylori leads to the production of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-23 and limited amounts of IL-12 [10], and these H. pylori-treated DCs stimulate

interferon (IFN)-γ production in naive T cells in vitro [10]. Biopsy material from H. pylori-infected individuals confirms both local infiltration of T helper type 1 (Th1) [11, 12] as well as Th17 cells [13, 14], suggesting that H. pylori has more than one effect on immunological cells. CD4+CD25hiforkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3+) regulatory T cells (Treg) are naturally occurring T cells capable of suppressing CD4+CD25− effector T cell (Teff) proliferation and cytokine production [15]. These cells play a critical role in maintaining peripheral tolerance, with their absence resulting in severe multi-organ autoimmune diseases [16]. Tregs also moderate the immune response to pathogens Selleck FK866 by regulating the balance between immunity and inflammation – while Histone Methyltransferase inhibitor Treg suppression needs to be overcome for effective anti-pathogen responses, excessive inflammation could result in disproportionate injury to healthy tissues [17]. Evidence has emerged to show a key role for Tregs in maintaining this balance, in some circumstances resulting in pathogen persistence in order to limit tissue injury [18, 19]. For example, lesional sites in Leishmania major infection are characterized

by the presence of both L. major and large numbers of Tregs that prevent the clearance of infection [18]. Similarly, Tregs limit the inflammatory response to H. hepaticus, thus limiting subsequent tissue damage [19]. In the case of H. pylori, infected individuals have H. pylori-specific circulating Tregs, impairing the memory response to H. pylori [20], and an elevated number of FoxP3+ cells in gastric biopsies [21]. This evidence suggests that H. pylori infection results in expansion of the Treg population and their recruitment to the site

of infection in order to limit the inflammatory response. Pathogen-stimulated DCs have been implicated in the expansion of Tregs. mafosfamide Yamazaki et al. demonstrated that while splenic APCs are poor promoters of Treg proliferation, bone marrow-derived DCs are capable of inducing Tregs to proliferate to a degree comparable with Teff during the first 3 days of culture [22]. The underlying mechanisms are thought to be through both contact-dependent (e.g. CD86/80 co-stimulation [23]) and non-contact-dependent [cytokine production, in particular the inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α] processes [24-28]. Based on reports of elevated Treg numbers in H. pylori-infected sites, we hypothesized that H. pylori instructs DCs to stimulate proliferation of Tregs locally. Furthermore, the presence of chronic inflammation despite the existence of elevated numbers of Tregs suggests that these Tregs have impaired ability to suppress local inflammation. We have investigated the direct and indirect effect of H.

An awareness of these principles can only add to a pathologist’s

An awareness of these principles can only add to a pathologist’s understanding of the pathology of traumatic injuries. The text benefits from having a limited number of contributors. There is a consistency in style, which is sometimes lacking from multi-author texts. Initially, I felt that the number of images seemed rather few for the size of the book. However, the text holds its own and my fears were unfounded. The book is of a size which can easily find a place on even the most crowded book shelf selleck chemical (a fact which belies the wealth of information contained within) and the quality of the product is good.

Unlike many hardback texts which I have encountered in recent years, this one shows no signs of ‘spinal trauma’ despite some rather rough handling. Overall, I felt that this text would be a useful addition to any practising neuropathologist’s book shelf, even if their dealings with forensic practice are infrequent. Clinicians and coroners are also likely to find it an accessible and valuable text. It comes with an extremely competitive price tag of £94.05 (http://www.amazon.co.uk), which,

given the quality Alectinib cost of the product, makes it a very tempting offer. “
“This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Ante Mortem Neurological Evaluations Macroscopic Examination of the Brain and Nervous System Harvesting the Nervous System Trimming Neural Tissues Tissue Embedding and the Assessment of Neuropathological Lesions Common Artifacts Development of Neural Lesions Regional and Tissue Specificity Veterinary Dietary Neurotoxicants of Note Pyridoxine Neuropathy References “
“The term ‘neuroinflammation’, in selleck its broadest sense, of course encompasses any inflammatory process, whether acute or chronic, involving the nervous system. Depending on the nature

of the inflammatory process diverse cell types may be involved, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells, microglia and macrophages. However, you will observe that most of the discussion by authors of the reviews in this special issue of Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology focuses on our current knowledge of microglia, in particular, in relation to ageing and neurodegenerative disease. Nissl in the 1880s and subsequently Santiago Ramon y Cajal and his student Pio Del Hortega in the 1930s were instrumental in the identification of microglial cells and more than 15 000 publications are now available on microglia in the PubMed database. However, despite this extensive literature, significant questions remain regarding the origins of microglia and their functions in the human brain.

Iron deficiency, leading to a typical microcytic hypochromic anem

Iron deficiency, leading to a typical microcytic hypochromic anemia, is a widespread and common nutritional problem in developing countries. Many people suffer from IDA in areas that are endemic for malaria 2, and it is known that IDA individuals are protected against malaria. Because IDA influences sporozoite development in the liver 17, it is possible that the severity of the blood-stage infection might be modified in humans due to alterations during the earlier stages; however, in this study, we found that IDA mice were highly resistant to erythrocytic-stage malaria, and we addressed the mechanisms underlying resistance

to malaria in IDA. First, we analyzed whether IDA affects the intra-erythrocytic development of the FXR agonist parasites. PyL parasites grew and proliferated in IDA erythrocytes in a manner comparable with that in control erythrocytes, even when cultured in the presence of low levels of iron (Fig. 2A). The resulting schizont-infected IDA erythrocytes contained similar numbers of intracellular merozoites to those in control erythrocytes (Fig. 2B). An alternative possibility is that IDA erythrocytes are more resistant click here to parasite invasion. Although we could not test this because of technical limitations in the use of murine parasites 18, it is unlikely, as Luzzi et al. proved, that P. falciparum invades IDA erythrocytes to the same degree as control erythrocytes 19.

Thus, we speculated that IDA does not adversely affect the parasites themselves and that resistance in IDA might be associated with host protective mechanisms. In addition to the lower levels of parasitemia during the very early phase of infection, acquired immunity is not well developed, suggesting that primitive protective mechanisms may operate. Indeed, we found that parasitized IDA cells were more susceptible to engulfment by phagocytes than control cells in vitro, resulting in rapid clearance from the circulation (Fig. 4). Furthermore, Acyl CoA dehydrogenase inhibition of phagocytosis slowed the clearance of parasitized IDA cells and abrogated

resistance to infection by PyL in IDA mice (Fig. 5), demonstrating that the resistance observed in IDA mice was mainly dependent on phagocytosis. Our findings also showed that phagocytosis of ring-stage parasites, prior to the development of parasites capable of sequestration (Fig. 1C, Fig. 4D), may account for the reduced incidence of severe malaria in IDA patients. It would be interesting to investigate this using a model of experimental cerebral malaria. We speculated that the higher susceptibility of IDA erythrocytes to phagocytosis results from the exposure of PS during parasite development, although we could not prove this experimentally. As apoptotic nucleated cells are phagocytosed after recognition by macrophages expressing receptors specific for PS 20, erythrocytes with exposed PS might be taken up by these macrophages.

12 A unique study that recorded localized contractions of the hum

12 A unique study that recorded localized contractions of the human bladder wall identified micromotion in healthy volunteers.13 Rapid and large localized contractions

without concomitant increases in intravesical pressure were accompanied by urgency in patients with OAB. selleck products These findings indicated that the human bladder is not a simple reservoir, but has significant contractile activity during the filling phase. A basic research study demonstrated that there are localized SCs in the bladder wall that spread to a nearby area in an isolated guinea pig bladder and induce non-micturition contractions of low amplitude.12 This contractile activity originates from an intrinsic mechanism in the bladder wall, as proven by the fact that the bladder was isolated and had no connection to the central nervous system. This phenomenon is considered to be involved in the

generation of micromotion MK0683 datasheet or involuntary detrusor activity in the bladder in vivo. Micromotion or non-micturition contractions during the filling phase were shown to be associated with afferent nerve firing in animals.8 Recent publications have indicated at least four classes of afferent nerves in the bladder: urothelial, serosal, muscle and muscle/urothelial.14 Among these, the muscle/urothelial nerves have been demonstrated to convey afferent input caused by SCs. Bladder afferents with endings in the vicinity

P-type ATPase of the urothelium were believed to respond to ATP derived from the urothelium by stretching of the bladder wall and convey the information of bladder filling. However, purinergic receptor antagonists were unable to inhibit the firing of these afferents in guinea pigs, although externally applied α, β-methylene ATP evoked the afferent firing;4 therefore, ATP-evoked firing of bladder afferents with endings in the vicinity of the urothelium may be involved in abnormal bladder sensation in a pathological bladder, such as in cases of interstitial cystitis, in which the production of ATP by the urothelium is increased.4 Additionally, afferent nerve firing induced by bladder distension in normal rats was not inhibited by purinergic receptor antagonists in isolated bladder-nerve preparation but was so in rats with cyclophosphamide cystitis.15 Thus, urothelium-derived information of bladder filling may not be involved in normal bladder sensation. There is solid evidence that spontaneous contractile activity is associated with afferent nerve firing, and such activity may be linked to urgency, which is an abnormal bladder sensation.5–7 Indeed, SCs evoked afferent nerve firing in a bladder-nerve preparation from a mouse with spinal cord transection.