• Increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in relation to mast cells in the bladder of interstitial cystitis patients. Filippou AS, et al. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 1999 May-Aug;12(2):49-53.

• Leukocyte populations in interstitial cystitis and idiopathic reduced bladder storage. Al-Hadithi H, Tincello DG, Vince GS, Richmond DH Urology. 2002 Jun;59(6):851-5.

• Massive extracellular tryptase from activated bladder mast cells in interstitial cystitis. Theoharides TC, Kempuraj D, Sant GR. Urology. 2001 Oct;58(4):605-6. No abstract available.

• Mast cell regulation of inflammation and gene expression during antigen-induced bladder inflammation in mice. Saban R, Saban MR, Nguyen NB, Hammond TG, Wershil BK. Physiol Genomics. 2001 Oct 10;7(1):35-43.

• Mast cell involvement in interstitial cystitis: a review of human and experimental evidence. Theoharides TC, Kempuraj D, Sant GR. Urology. 2001 Jun;57(6 Suppl 1):47-55.

• Mast Cell-Nerve Interactions. Bauer O, Razin E. News Physiol Sci. 2000 Oct;15:213-218.

• Bladder hypersensitivity of interstitial cystitis complicated by allergic diseases. Yamada T, Murayama T, Mita H, Akiyama K. Urology. 2001 Jun;57(6 Suppl 1):125. No Abstract"> available.

• Mast cell regulation of inflammation and gene-expression during antigen-induced bladder inflammation in the mouse. Saban R, Saban MR, Nguyen NB, Hammond TG, Wershil BK. Physiol Genomics. 2001 Aug 8 [epub ahead of print]

• Subtypes of bladder mast cells in interstitial cystitis. Yamada T, Murayama T, Mita H, Akiyama K. Int J Urol. 2000 Aug;7(8):292-7.

• Recruitment, distribution and phenotypes of mast cells in interstitial cystitis. Peeker R, Enerback L, Fall M, Aldenborg F. J Urol 2000 Mar;163(3):1009-15

• Studies into the pathogenesis of human interstitial cystitis. Becich MJ- University of Pittsburgh web page

Suggested Readings:

Neuropeptide-Mast Cell Interaction in Interstitial Cystitis. Ricardo Saban, Ingegerd M. Keith, and Dale E. Bjorling. In Grannum R. Sant (Ed.)Interstitial Cystitis. Philadelphia: Lippencott-Raven 1997: Chapt. 7

Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology. Becich MJ, et al- Vo. 74, No.3, Mar 1995, 209-216 (order reprint from http://www.pathology.pitt.edu/people/faculty/becich/07a.html)