ABSTRACT
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a debilitating disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the urinary bladder. β-Adrenergic receptor blockers appear to have a beneficial clinical effect in IC. In this paper, we review the evidence of an association between β-adrenergic receptor blockade and IC. The information was obtained from MEDLINE. Genetic studies have provided the opportunity to determine which proteins link β-adrenergic receptor blockade to IC pathology. In particular, this link involves the major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, the renin-angiotensin system, the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB, the nerve growth factor, and the vascular endothelial growth factor. Β-Adrenergic receptor blockers also exert anti-IC effects through non-genomic factors, including stress, mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, prostaglandins, cyclooxygenase-2, oxidative stress, and nitric oxide synthase. In conclusion, β-adrenergic receptor blockade may play a beneficial role in IC treatment. Additional investigations that examine β-adrenergic receptor blockers as IC therapeutics are required to further elucidate this role.