Identification of cells from fetal bladder epithelium in human amniotic fluid

Cultured human amniotic fluid cells consist of five different types of cytokeratin-positive epithelial cells, E-1 to E-5, differing by their size, growth morphology, and cytokeratin pattern, according to our earlier investigations. Using anticytokeratin antibodies in indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) microscopy, we show in this study that cultured urine cells contain four of the cell types found in amniotic fluid. In addition, we used two urothelium-specific antibodies, anti-UMA and anti-Las-86, in combination with cytokeratin antibodies to distinguish urothelium-derived cells in amniotic fluid and urine cell cultures. Two of the epithelial cell types were found to express urothelial antigens and thus to originate from the transitional bladder epithelium. These cells were found in 26 of the 33 amniotic fluid cell cultures and in nine of the ten urine cell cultures.