Study on genetic stability in human urothelial cells in vitro

Quality control studies addressing gene expression changes and genetic stability are of vital importance in regenerative medicine. In order to rule out that in vitro expansion gives rise to gene expression changes that could favour oncogenic events, this study applied a total human gene expression chip (Affymetrix®) and bioinformatics analysis using the Ingenuity web-based application in combination with an analysis of chromosomal copy number variations using array comparative genomic hybridization. Urothelial cells presented a general repression of genes required for cell cycle progression and upregulation of growth-inhibitory genes, as well as a decrease in deoxyribose nucleic acid replication after long-term culture. Molecules were identified with a potential to regulate human urothelial cell senescence, such as the micro-ribonucleic acid Let-7. Human urothelial cells did not acquire copy number variations after long-term culture and the cells had a normal expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Altogether, both gene expression studies and array comparative genomic hybridization indicated a good quality of in vitro propagated cells. For tissue engineering purposes, these analyses could be used for quality control assessments before transplantation back to the patient. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.