[Tissue engineering and stem cell research in urology for a reconstructive or regenerative treatment approach]

With the involvement of clinical reconstructive urology in the field of tissue engineering, outstanding results have been achieved in basic research as well as in some clinics. Stem cell research has even opened up possibilities for regenerative aspects. In close cooperation with various disciplines, the Department of Urology at the University of Tübingen investigates different clinical aspects with regard to reconstructive and regenerative urology. The regeneration of the external urethral sphincter requires functionally integrated muscle cells. In addition stricture reconstruction with multilayer urothelium should become less invasive and the re-stricture rate reduced. After the application of differentiating stem cells was proven, the clinical setting needed to be set for legal issues. In addition to the specification of culture media and verification in the animal model, the possibility to harvest omnipotent stem cells out of human testis and to differentiate those into the three germ layers was demonstrated. With the reduced invasiveness of harvesting the urothelium cells by a bladder wash using specific culture fluids, the cell culture was significantly improved enabling successful creation of urothelium by stratification. In addition urothelial cells in a matrix are further improved for endoscopic application. The close cooperation of different disciplines shortens the time to develop therapeutic approaches with a close clinical relationship in reconstructive and regenerative urology.