Furuta A, et al. - Assuming that patients with interstitial cystitis (IC) and overactive bladder (OAB) share a characteristic in terms of chronic inflammatory conditions, researchers measured 40 inflammatory urine markers in IC patients with or without Hunner’s lesions [HIC(Hunner’s type interstitial cystitis) and NHIC (Non-Hunner’s type interstitial cystitis) respectively] and OAB patients. Analyzing urine from consecutive HIC patients, NHIC patients, and age and gender-matched OAB patients with no history of IC, recurrent urinary tract infection or bladder cancer revealed significantly increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-6, and chemokines including CCL2, CCL5, CXCL1, CXCL8, and CXCL10 in HIC (n=30) and NHIC (n=30) patients compared with OAB (n=28) patients. Hence suggesting the pathophysiological importance of the increases in angiogenesis-associated proteins such as VEGF and CXCL10 for the development of IC.