A nanoparticle‐coupled T2 peptide induces immune tolerance and ameliorates chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in mice model

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a complex disease of unclear etiology. Precise treatment of CP/CPPS is not available due to lack of specific cause; however, autoimmunity is the most valid theory. We develop a new treatment strategy that involves synthesis and coupling of biodegradable nanoparticles to antigenic T2 peptide to induce immune tolerance in CP/CPPS mice models. A total of 50 male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into five groups, that is, naïve, Model, PLGA-PEMA, PLGA-PEMA-OVA323-339 , and PLGA-PEMA-T2 group. All groups except naïve were injected subcutaneously on day 0 with 0.2 mL of T2 peptide with CFA to generate valid CP/CPPS models. After successful induction of CP/CPPS, Model group, PLGA-PEMA, PLGA-PEMA-OVA, and PLGA-PEMA-T2 groups were treated with 0.15 mL of normal saline, 0.2 mg of PLGA-PEMA and PLG-PEMA-T2 and 0.3 mg PLGA-PEMA-OVA nanoparticles, respectively, on day 28. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, and ELISA were used to evaluate the variation in CP/CPPS manifestations and seral level of IL-10 in each group. Pain threshold and voiding behavior were also recorded for every group. Mice treated with PLGA-PEMA-T2 exhibited enhanced pain threshold, reduced urine frequency, and prostate pathology. Furthermore, serum level of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α and CRP) were reduced and anti-inflammatory IL-10 was enhanced in PLGA-PEMA-T2 group as compared to other groups. Our results demonstrate that PLGA-PEMA-T2 nanoparticle ameliorates disease manifestations in CP/CPPS mice models and upregulates IL-10 which is essential for tolerance induction. This strategy highlights the new therapeutic approach utilizing biodegradable nanoparticles for the treatment of CP/CPPS.