BACKGROUND: The goals of this study were to characterize urine-derived stem cells obtained from the upper urinary tract (uUSC), induce these cells to differentiate into urothelial and smooth muscle cells, and determine whether they could serve as a potential stem cell source for bladder tissue engineering. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urine samples were collected from five patients with normal upper urinary tracts during renal pyeloplasty. Cells were isolated from this urine and extensively expanded in vitro. RESULTS: The mean population doubling of uUSC was 46.5±7.7. The uUSC expressed surface markers associated with mesenchymal stem cells and pericytes. These cells could differentiate into smooth muscle-like cells that expressed smooth muscle-specific gene transcripts and proteins, including α-smooth muscle actin, desmin, and myosin, when exposed to TGF-β1 and PDGF-BB. In a collagen lattice assay, these myogenic-differentiated uUSC displayed contractile function that was similar to that seen in native smooth muscle cells. Urothelial-differentiated uUSC expressed urothelial-specific genes and proteins such as uroplakin-Ia and -III, cytokeratin (CK)-7, and CK-13. CONCLUSIONS: uUSC possess expansion and differentiation (urothelial and myogenic) capabilities, and can potentially be used as an alternative cell source in bladder tissue engineering for patients needing cystoplasty.
BACKGROUND: The goals of this study were to characterize urine-derived stem cells obtained from the upper urinary tract (uUSC), induce these cells to differentiate into urothelial and smooth muscle cells, and determine whether they could serve as a potential stem cell source for bladder tissue engineering. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urine samples were collected from five patients with normal upper urinary tracts during renal pyeloplasty. Cells were isolated from this urine and extensively expanded in vitro. RESULTS: The mean population doubling of uUSC was 46.5±7.7. The uUSC expressed surface markers associated with mesenchymal stem cells and pericytes. These cells could differentiate into smooth muscle-like cells that expressed smooth muscle-specific gene transcripts and proteins, including α-smooth muscle actin, desmin, and myosin, when exposed to TGF-β1 and PDGF-BB. In a collagen lattice assay, these myogenic-differentiated uUSC displayed contractile function that was similar to that seen in native smooth muscle cells. Urothelial-differentiated uUSC expressed urothelial-specific genes and proteins such as uroplakin-Ia and -III, cytokeratin (CK)-7, and CK-13. CONCLUSIONS: uUSC possess expansion and differentiation (urothelial and myogenic) capabilities, and can potentially be used as an alternative cell source in bladder tissue engineering for patients needing cystoplasty.
Authors: Xuan Guan; David L Mack; Claudia M Moreno; Jennifer L Strande; Julie Mathieu; Yingai Shi; Chad D Markert; Zejing Wang; Guihua Liu; Michael W Lawlor; Emily C Moorefield; Tara N Jones; James A Fugate; Mark E Furth; Charles E Murry; Hannele Ruohola-Baker; Yuanyuan Zhang; Luis F Santana; Martin K Childers Journal: Stem Cell Res Date: 2013-12-23 Impact factor: 2.020
Authors: Chaoqun Hu; Yun He; Shuyu Fang; Na Tian; Mengjia Gong; Xiaohui Xu; Li Zhao; Yi Wang; Tongchuan He; Yuanyuan Zhang; Yang Bi Journal: Am J Transl Res Date: 2020-09-15 Impact factor: 4.060