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Minimally Invasive Establishment of Murine Orthotopic Bladder Xenografts
Published on: February 11, 2014
Bone marrow-derived cells implanted into radiation-injured urinary bladders reconstruct functional bladder tissues in
Tetsuya Imamura1, Osamu Ishizuka, Zhang Lei
1Department of Lower Urinary Tract Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. imatetu@shinshu-u.ac.jp
Tissue Engineering. Part A
|April 7, 2012
Summary
Bone marrow cells can repair radiation damage in rat urinary bladders. Implanting these cells restored bladder tissue function, improving voiding intervals and reducing residual volume after radiation therapy.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Urology
- Radiation Oncology
Background:
- Pelvic radiotherapy can cause urinary bladder dysfunction.
- Radiation-induced bladder injury leads to disorganized smooth muscle and nerve fibers.
- Current treatments for radiation-induced cystitis are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) in reconstructing functional bladder tissue after radiation injury.
- To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of BMDCs in treating radiation-induced urinary dysfunction in a rat model.
Main Methods:
- Female Sprague-Dawley rats received fractionated radiation to the pelvic region.
- Cultured BMDCs from GFP-transfected rats were implanted into irradiated bladders.
- Control groups received cell-free injections.
- Bladder function was assessed via cystometry, histology, and immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- Irradiated bladders showed disorganized smooth muscle and nerve fibers, with increased collagen synthesis (P4HB expression).
- BMDC implantation led to reconstruction of smooth muscle layers and nerve fibers.
- Cell implantation significantly improved bladder function, normalizing voiding intervals and reducing residual volumes compared to controls.
- Implanted GFP-positive cells differentiated into smooth muscle- and nerve-like cells.
Conclusions:
- BMDCs can differentiate and integrate into damaged bladder tissue, restoring its structure and function.
- BMDC transplantation offers a promising therapeutic strategy for managing radiation-induced urinary dysfunction.
- This approach holds potential for improving quality of life in cancer survivors treated with pelvic radiotherapy.
