Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) represents a chronic, non-infectious inflammatory bladder disorder, predominantly affecting women. Primary symptoms include ongoing pelvic pain, frequent urination, and urgency, often accompanied by functional somatic pain syndromes and psychological health disturbances. The severity of IC symptoms significantly impairs patients' quality of life, highlighting the necessity for research on the pathogenesis, progression, and treatment of IC/BPS. Although the exact etiology of IC remains unclear, and there is no simple or definitive diagnostic method, current clinical treatments primarily focus on symptom relief rather than a cure. In recent years, extensive experimental studies on the etiology and pathophysiology of IC have identified a multitude of signaling pathways involved in the disease's initiation, progression, and self-repair mechanisms. This study focuses on IC-related signaling pathways, analyzing the role of key molecular signals in the onset and progression of IC. By integrating clinical symptoms and signs with molecular biology insights, we provide a comprehensive overview and comparative analysis of IC's etiology and pathophysiological activities. The goal is to establish a theoretical foundation for the development of more efficient diagnostic tools, drug therapies, treatment evaluations, and preventive strategies for IC.
Frontiers in immunology. 2026 Apr 23*** epublish ***
Haowen Wang, Shuang Liu, Yuan Sun, Lina Wang
Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China., Liaoning Laboratory of Cancer Genomics and Department of Cell Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.