Abstract
BackgroundMolecular mechanisms underlying the regenerative process induced by stem cells in tissue-engineered urinary bladder are poorly explained. The study was performed to explore the pathways associated with regeneration process in the urinary bladder reconstructed with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs).MethodsRat urinary bladders were reconstructed with bladder acellular matrix (BAM) (n = 52) or BAM seeded with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) (n = 52). The process of bladder healing was analyzed at 7, 30, 90, and 180 days postoperatively using macroscopic histologic and molecular techniques. Gene expression was analyzed by microarrays and confirmed by real-time PCR.ResultsNumerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the bladders augmented with BAM seeded with ASCs or BAM only. Pathway analysis of DEGs allows to discover numerous pathways among them Hedgehog, TGF-β, Jak-STAT, PI3-Akt, and Hippo modulated by ASCs during the healing process of tissue-engineered urinary bladder. Real-time PCR analysis confirmed upregulation of genes involved in the Hedgehog signaling pathway including Shh, Gli1, Smo, Bmp2, Bmp4, Wnt2, Wnt2b, Wnt4, Wnt5a, and Wnt10 in urinary bladders reconstructed with ASC-seeded grafts.ConclusionThe study provided the unequivocal evidence that ASCs change the molecular pattern of healing in tissue-engineered urinary bladder and indicated which signaling pathways triggered by ASCs can be associated with the regenerative process. These pathways can be used as targets in the future studies on induced urinary bladder regeneration. Of particular interest is the Hedgehog signaling pathway that has been upregulated by ASCs during healing of tissue-engineered urinary bladder.
Highlights
Molecular mechanisms underlying the regenerative process induced by stem cells in tissue-engineered urinary bladder are poorly explained
Study design Rat urinary bladders were reconstructed with bladder acellular matrix (BAM) (n = 52) or BAM seeded with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) (n = 52)
Of particular interest are pathways being a key regulator of embryonic development, involved in multiple processes including cell fate determination, tissue patterning, and morphogenesis as well as regulation of adult stem cell renewal, maintenance of homeostasis, and regeneration of adult tissues such us Hedgehog, TGF-β, Jak-STAT, PI3-Akt, and Hippo signaling pathways
Summary
Molecular mechanisms underlying the regenerative process induced by stem cells in tissue-engineered urinary bladder are poorly explained. The study was performed to explore the pathways associated with regeneration process in the urinary bladder reconstructed with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs). Known surgical techniques are reaching their limits in terms of a functional result that might be improved upon by gradual implementation of tissue engineering solutions [2]. In this context, tissue engineering seems to be a natural path for reconstructive urology development and might overcome the increasing stagnation in this field. Based on the obtained results, in the step, we focused on the analysis of the Hedgehog signaling pathway that is one of the most important pathways for normal urinary bladder development
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