Preliminary experimental study of urethral reconstruction with tissue engineering and RNA interference techniques

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Urology

Background:

• Urethral reconstruction often faces challenges with tissue availability and scar formation.
• Tissue engineering offers potential solutions for creating functional urethral substitutes.
• Modulating fibroblast behavior is crucial for preventing urethral scarring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of using oral keratinocytes and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) small interfering RNA (siRNA)-transfected fibroblasts on a bladder acellular matrix graft (BAMG) for urethral reconstruction.
• To investigate the effect of TGF-β1 siRNA on fibroblast collagen synthesis.
• To assess the compatibility of the engineered tissue with the BAMG.

Main Methods:

• Constructing and transfecting rabbit fibroblasts with TGF-β1 siRNA.
• Screening effective siRNA using RT-PCR.
• Measuring type I collagen synthesis via ELISA.
• Seeding oral keratinocytes and transfected fibroblasts onto BAMG to create a tissue-engineered mucosa.
• Assessing the engineered mucosa using scanning electron microscopy.

Main Results:

• TGF-β1 siRNA effectively decreased fibroblast synthesis of type I collagen.
• Oral keratinocytes and TGF-β1 siRNA-transfected fibroblasts demonstrated good compatibility with BAMG.
• The resulting compound graft showed potential for urethral reconstruction.

Conclusions:

• Downregulation of fibroblast collagen synthesis via TGF-β1 siRNA provides a basis for genetic therapy in urethral scar treatment.
• The combination of oral keratinocytes and modified fibroblasts on BAMG represents a viable option for tissue-engineered urethral reconstruction.