When our findings are taken together with the reported downregulation of ZO-1 and E-cadherin5,12 in the bladder biopsy of BPS/IC patients5,10,11, we inferred that the exposure to acute or chronic psychological stress can precipitate an acute rise in bladder permeability which can exacerbate flare-up36 and/or worsen BPS/IC symptoms1. The gene discussed is TJP1; the disease is Bartsocas-Papas syndrome 1.