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A Novel and Faster Method to Obtain a Differentiated 3-Dimensional Tissue Engineered Bladder
Sara Bouhout1, Francine Goulet1, Stéphane Bolduc1
1Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/Laboratoire d'organogénèse experimentale, Faculté de médecine, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Researchers developed a novel 3D bladder model using submerged culture and urine coating, successfully creating differentiated urothelium without air exposure for potential bladder repair and alternative to animal testing.
Area of Science:
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
- Urology
Background:
- Developing functional bladder tissue models is crucial for regenerative medicine.
- Current methods often require air-liquid interface exposure, which can affect urothelial differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a novel, rapid method for creating a 3D bladder model with differentiated urothelium.
- To achieve this without the need for air-liquid interface exposure.
Main Methods:
- Constructed bilayered bladder tissue using collagen gels seeded with mesenchymal cells.
- Applied a pure urine coating to the collagen matrix before urothelial cell seeding.
- Cultured the 3D bladder models under submerged conditions for 15 days.
Main Results:
- Pure urine coating and intermittent urine presence maintained urothelial cell properties.
- Immunohistological and ultrastructural analyses confirmed pseudostratified urothelium formation.
- The reconstructed urothelium exhibited normal K14 expression, uroplakin trafficking, and apical membrane formation.
Conclusions:
- The developed 3D bladder model shows potential for clinical applications like bladder repair.
- This model offers a viable alternative to animal models for bladder tissue research and drug testing.
