Basic science research on the urinary bladder and interstitial cystitis: new genetic approaches.

This article summarizes recent genetic research that promises to advance understanding of the functioning of the urinary bladder and further our knowledge about interstitial cystitis. Results reported at the Tenth International Research Symposium on Interstitial Cystitis and Bladder Research and in the current literature are presented. Three specific areas of genetic research are summarized: gene expression via DNA arrays, development of new animal models through transgenic or gene knockout approaches, and gene therapy. Advances in genetic research (specifically in gene therapy; development of new, genetically engineered mouse models; and study of gene expression using DNA array assays) will contribute to further understanding the functioning of the urinary bladder in health and disease.