Correlation between Urothelial Differentiation and Sensory Proteins P2X3, P2X5, TRPV1, and TRPV4 in Normal Urothelium and Papillary Carcinoma of Human Bladder

Figure 1

The expression pattern of uroplakins, P2X3, P2X5, TRPV1, and TRPV4 in normal human urothelium and in low and high grade papillary urothelial carcinomas as determined by Western blotting. In the protein samples of normal urothelium, UPIIIa, P2X3, P2X5, TRPV1, and TRPV4 are expressed. In low grade carcinoma, there is no expression of uroplakins. P2X3 and TRPV4 are expressed as in normal urothelium, while P2X5 is greatly diminished. TRPV1 expression is decreased in comparison to normal urothelium. In the protein samples of high grade carcinoma with lamina propria invasion (pT1) and those with muscularis propria invasion (pT2), the expression patterns were similar and therefore three examples of each are presented here. The expression of uroplakins is negative and expressions of P2X3 and TRPV1 are substantially decreased compared to normal urothelium. The expressions of P2X5 and TRPV4 are the same as in normal urothelium. Western blots were done in duplicate. Molecular weights are shown in kilodaltons (kDa).