Akiyama et al. has demonstrated that the upregulation of HIF-1α in the Hunner lesions of IC/BPS bladder induces an activation of HIF1α-related biological pathways and leads to the upregulation of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), erythropoietin, iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase), and/or glucose transporters, which protect cells from lethal damage or apoptosis induced by ischemia or inflammation [7]. Here, EPO is linked to Bartsocas-Papas syndrome 1.