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Post WM, Widomska J, Grens H, Coenen MJH, Martens FMJ, Janssen DAW, IntHout J, Poelmans G, Oosterwijk E, Kluivers KB. Molecular Processes in Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review of Human and Animal Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063401. [PMID: 35328824 PMCID: PMC8949972 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common and burdensome condition. Because of the large knowledge gap around the molecular processes involved in its pathophysiology, the aim of this review was to provide a systematic overview of genetic variants, gene and protein expression changes related to SUI in human and animal studies. On 5 January 2021, a systematic search was performed in Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library. The screening process and quality assessment were performed in duplicate, using predefined inclusion criteria and different quality assessment tools for human and animal studies respectively. The extracted data were grouped in themes per outcome measure, according to their functions in cellular processes, and synthesized in a narrative review. Finally, 107 studies were included, of which 35 used animal models (rats and mice). Resulting from the most examined processes, the evidence suggests that SUI is associated with altered extracellular matrix metabolism, estrogen receptors, oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, neurodegenerative processes, and muscle cell differentiation and contractility. Due to heterogeneity in the studies (e.g., in examined tissues), the precise contribution of the associated genes and proteins in relation to SUI pathophysiology remained unclear. Future research should focus on possible contributors to these alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilke M. Post
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (W.M.P.); (H.G.)
| | - Joanna Widomska
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.W.); (G.P.)
| | - Hilde Grens
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (W.M.P.); (H.G.)
| | - Marieke J. H. Coenen
- Radboud Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Frank M. J. Martens
- Department of Urology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (F.M.J.M.); (D.A.W.J.); (E.O.)
| | - Dick A. W. Janssen
- Department of Urology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (F.M.J.M.); (D.A.W.J.); (E.O.)
| | - Joanna IntHout
- Department of Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Geert Poelmans
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.W.); (G.P.)
| | - Egbert Oosterwijk
- Department of Urology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (F.M.J.M.); (D.A.W.J.); (E.O.)
| | - Kirsten B. Kluivers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (W.M.P.); (H.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Plair A, Bennington J, Williams JK, Parker-Autry C, Matthews CA, Badlani G. Regenerative medicine for anal incontinence: a review of regenerative therapies beyond cells. Int Urogynecol J 2020; 32:2337-2347. [PMID: 33247762 DOI: 10.1007/s00192-020-04620-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS Current treatment modalities for anal sphincter injuries are ineffective for many patients, prompting research into restorative and regenerative therapies. Although cellular therapy with stem cells and progenitor cells show promise in animal models with short-term improvement, there are additional regenerative approaches that can augment or replace cellular therapies for anal sphincter injuries. The purpose of this article is to review the current knowledge of cellular therapies for anal sphincter injuries and discusses the use of other regenerative therapies including cytokine therapy with CXCL12. METHODS A literature search was performed to search for articles on cellular therapy and cytokine therapy for anal sphincter injuries and anal incontinence. RESULTS The article search identified 337 articles from which 33 articles were included. An additional 12 referenced articles were included as well as 23 articles providing background information. Cellular therapy has shown positive results for treating anal sphincter injuries and anal incontinence in vitro and in one clinical trial. However, cellular therapy has disadvantages such as the source and processing of stem cells and progenitor cells. CXCL12 does not have such issues while showing promising in vitro results for treating anal sphincter injuries. Additionally, electrical stimulation and extracorporeal shock wave therapy are potential regenerative medicine adjuncts for anal sphincter injuries. A vision for future research and clinical applications of regenerative medicine for anal sphincter deficiencies is provided. CONCLUSION There are viable regenerative medicine therapies for anal sphincter injuries beyond cellular therapy. CXCL12 shows promise as a focus of therapeutic research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Plair
- Department of Urology, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston Salem, NC, USA.
| | - Julie Bennington
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Gopal Badlani
- Department of Urology, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston Salem, NC, USA
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Jiang HH, Ji LX, Li HY, Song QX, Bano Y, Chen L, Liu G, Wang M. Combined Treatment With CCR1-Overexpressing Mesenchymal Stem Cells and CCL7 Enhances Engraftment and Promotes the Recovery of Simulated Birth Injury-Induced Stress Urinary Incontinence in Rats. Front Surg 2020; 7:40. [PMID: 32850943 PMCID: PMC7412717 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2020.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: To observe whether urethral injection of chemokine (c-c motif) ligand 7 (CCL7) and overexpressing CC receptor 1 (CCR1) in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can promote their homing and engraftment to the injured tissue, and improve the recovery of simulated birth injury-induced stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in rats. Methods: Female rats underwent a dual injury consisting of vaginal distension (VD) and pudendal nerve crush (PNC) to induce SUI. Bone marrow-derived MSCs were transduced with lentivirus carrying CCR1 (MSC-CCR1) and green fluorescent protein (GFP). Forty virgin Sprague–Dawley rats were evenly distributed into four groups: sham SUI + MSC-CCR1+CCL7, SUI + MSCs, SUI + MSC-CCR1, and SUI + MSC-CCR1+CCL7 group. The engrafted MSCs in urethra were quantified. Another three groups of rats, including sham SUI + sham MSC-CCR1+CCL7 treatment, SUI + sham MSC-CCR1+CCL7 treatment, and SUI + MSC-CCR1+CCL7 treatment group, were used to evaluate the functional recovery by testing external urethral sphincter electromyography (EUS EMG), pudendal nerve motor branch potentials (PNMBP), and leak point pressure (LPP) 1 week after injury and injection. Urethra and vagina were harvested for histological examination. Results: The SUI + MSC-CCR1+CCL7 group received intravenous injection of CCR1-overexpressing MSCs and local injection of CCL7 after simulated birth injury had the most engraftment of MSCs to the injured tissues and best functional recovery from SUI compared to other groups. Histological examination showed a partial repair in the SUI + MSC-CCR1+CCL7 group. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated combined treatment with CCR1-overexpressing MSCs and CCL7 can increase engraftment of MSCs and promote the functional recovery of simulated birth trauma-induced SUI in rats, which could be a new therapeutic strategy for SUI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Hong Jiang
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ling-Xiao Ji
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hai-Yan Li
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Qi-Xiang Song
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yasmeen Bano
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Guiming Liu
- Department of Surgery/Urology, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Meihao Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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New concepts in regenerative medicine approaches to the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. Curr Opin Urol 2020; 29:380-384. [PMID: 30855380 DOI: 10.1097/mou.0000000000000617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Update on recent regenerative medicine approaches to the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) caused by intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD). RECENT FINDINGS In the treatment of female SUI/ISD, results using different types of cellular therapy have been disappointing, and new approaches are desirable. To advance our regenerative medicine approaches to SUI/ISD, it is critical to utilize animal models that best parallel the pathophysiology of this disease in women. Many current animal models mimic acute SUI/ISD. However, SUI/ISD in women is usually a chronic condition resulting from previous muscle and nerve sphincter damage during parturition or muscle loss during aging. Similar to women, a nonhuman primate (NHP) model of chronic SUI/ISD has demonstrated only modest response to cell therapy. However, treatment with stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1), also known as C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) restored continence in this model. SUMMARY As a potential therapeutic approach, the use of a well characterized chemokine, such as CXCL12, may by-pass the lengthy and expensive process of cell isolation, expansion, and injection. Recent findings in this new NHP model of chronic SUI/ISD may open up the field for noncell-based treatments.
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Yang B, Li M, Lei H, Xu Y, Li H, Gao Z, Guan R, Xin Z. Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Influences the Myogenic Differentiation of Muscle Satellite Cells in a Stress Urinary Incontinence Rat Model. Urology 2018; 123:297.e1-297.e8. [PMID: 30273612 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2018.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 09/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) in a stress urinary incontinence (SUI) rat model and its influence on myogenic satellite cells. METHODS Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats underwent vaginal distension and bilateral ovariectomy mimicking partum injury and menopause to construct SUI models, which were further randomized into 100 mW/cm2 LIPUS, 200 mW/cm2 LIPUS, 300 mW/cm2 LIPUS, and none-treatment control subgroups with 10 rats per subgroup. Ten rats served as mock operation control. Leak point pressure and bladder capacity were recorded 1 week after LIPUS treatment. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were performed to examine histological changes, myodifferentiation, and signaling pathway. RESULTS Here,we found the leak point pressure and bladder capacity were restored in 200 mW/cm2 LIPUS and 300 mW/cm2 LIPUS groups, but not in 100 mW/cm2 LIPUS group. More robust striated muscle regeneration was observed in 200 mW/cm2 LIPUS group comparing with the SUI none-treatment group. Moreover, we found LIPUS activated the myodifferentiation of muscle satellite cells, which is correlated to p38 phosphorylation level. CONCLUSION LIPUS restored the leak point pressure and bladder capacity, and activated satellite cell myodifferentiation in SUI rat model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bicheng Yang
- Molecular Biology Laboratory of Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Li
- Molecular Biology Laboratory of Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongen Lei
- Molecular Biology Laboratory of Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yongde Xu
- Department of Urology, First Hospital Affiliated to Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Huixi Li
- Molecular Biology Laboratory of Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhezhu Gao
- Molecular Biology Laboratory of Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruili Guan
- Molecular Biology Laboratory of Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongcheng Xin
- Molecular Biology Laboratory of Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Effect of Pregnancy and Delivery on Cytokine Expression in a Mouse Model of Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg 2018; 23:449-456. [PMID: 28248847 DOI: 10.1097/spv.0000000000000394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pregnancy and delivery mode on cytokine expression in the pelvic organs and serum of lysyl oxidase like-1 knockout (LOXL1 KO) mice, which develop pelvic organ prolapse after delivery. METHODS Bladder, urethra, vagina, rectum, and blood were harvested from female LOXL1 KO mice during pregnancy, after vaginal or cesarean delivery, and from sham cesarean and unmanipulated controls. Pelvic organs and blood were also harvested from pregnant and vaginally delivered wild-type (WT) mice and from unmanipulated female virgin WT controls. Specimens were assessed using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Both CXCL12 and CCL7 mRNA were significantly up-regulated in the vagina, urethra, bladder, and rectum of pregnant LOXL1 KO mice compared with pregnant WT mice, suggesting systemic dysregulation of both of these cytokines in LOXL1 KO mice as a response to pregnancy.The differences in cytokine expression between LOXL1 KO and WT mice in pregnancy persisted after vaginal delivery. CCL7 gene expression increases faster and to a greater extent in LOXL1 KO mice, translating to longer lasting increases in CCL7 in serum of LOXL1 KO mice after vaginal delivery, compared with pregnant mice. CONCLUSIONS Lysyl oxidase like-1 KO mice have an increased cytokine response to pregnancy perhaps because they are less able to reform and re-cross-link stretched elastin to accommodate pups, and this resultant tissue stretches during pregnancy. The up-regulation of CCL7 after delivery could provide an indicator of level of childbirth injury, to which the urethra and vagina seem to be particularly vulnerable.
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Williams JK, Dean A, Badlani G, Andersson KE. Regenerative Medicine Therapies for Stress Urinary Incontinence. J Urol 2016; 196:1619-1626. [PMID: 27544623 DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2016.05.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We summarize the current state of knowledge regarding cell therapy for stress urinary incontinence and introduce new approaches of using regenerative pharmacology as an adjunct or replacement for cell therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed the literature by searching PubMed®, Ovid and Biological Abstracts. The period searched was 1975 to December 2015. The inclusion terms separately or in combination were stress urinary incontinence, cell therapy, chemokine, vascularization, innervation, secretome and/or animal models. Epublished articles were not included. We did not exclude articles based on impact factor. RESULTS Cell therapy is currently proposed to restore functional muscle cells and aid in closure of the sphincter in women with sphincter associated incontinence. Clinical trials have included small numbers of patients and results have varied depending on the patient cohorts and the cells used. Results of preclinical studies have also varied but show a more favorable outcome. This difference was most likely explained by the fact that animal modeling is not directly translatable to the human condition. However, preclinical studies have identified an exciting new approach to regeneration of the urinary sphincter using the components of cells (secretomes) or chemokines that home reparative cells to sites of injury. CONCLUSIONS Cell therapy will continue to be explored. However, a regenerative pharmacological approach to the treatment of stress urinary incontinence holds the promise of bypassing the lengthy and expensive process of cell isolation and also increasing the availability of treatment in many clinical settings. This approach requires careful preclinical modeling and attention to its health benefit-to-risk ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Koudy Williams
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
| | - Ashley Dean
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Gopal Badlani
- Department of Urology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Karl-Erik Andersson
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Aarhus Institute for Advanced Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Electrical Stimulation Followed by Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Anal Sphincter Anatomy and Function in a Rat Model at a Time Remote From Injury. Dis Colon Rectum 2016; 59:434-42. [PMID: 27050606 DOI: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000000548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have explored cell-based therapy to aid anal sphincter repair, but a conditioning injury is required to direct stem cells to the site of injury because symptoms usually manifest at a time remote from injury. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the effect of local electrical stimulation followed by mesenchymal stem cell delivery on anal sphincter regeneration at a time remote from injury. DESIGN AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES With the use of a rat model, electrical stimulation parameters and cell delivery route were selected based on in vivo cytokine expression and luciferase-labeled cell imaging of the anal sphincter complex. Three weeks after a partial anal sphincter excision, rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups based on different local interventions: no treatment, daily electrical stimulation for 3 days, daily stimulation for 3 days followed by stem cell injection on the third day, and daily electrical stimulation followed by stem cell injection on the first and third days. Histology-assessed anatomy and anal manometry evaluated physiology 4 weeks after intervention. RESULTS The electrical stimulation parameters that significantly upregulated gene expression of homing cytokines also achieved mesenchymal stem cell retention when injected directly in the anal sphincter complex in comparison with intravascular and intraperitoneal injections. Four weeks after intervention, there was significantly more new muscle in the area of injury and significantly improved anal resting pressure in the group that received daily electrical stimulation for 3 days followed by a single injection of 1 million stem cells on the third day at the site of injury. LIMITATION This was a pilot study and therefore was not powered for functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS In this rat injury model with optimized parameters, electrical stimulation with a single local mesenchymal stem cell injection administered 3 weeks after injury significantly improved both new muscle formation in the area of injury and anal sphincter pressures.
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Sadeghi Z, Isariyawongse J, Kavran M, Izgi K, Marini G, Molter J, Daneshgari F, Flask CA, Caplan A, Hijaz A. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in a rat model of birth-trauma injury: functional improvements and biodistribution. Int Urogynecol J 2015; 27:291-300. [PMID: 26353846 DOI: 10.1007/s00192-015-2831-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS We evaluated the potential role of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in improvement of urinary continence following birth-trauma injury. METHODS Human MSCs were injected periurethrally or systemically into rats immediately after vaginal distention (VD) (n = 90). Control groups were non-VD (uninjured/untreated, n = 15), local or systemic saline (injection/control, n = 90), and dermofibroblast (cell therapy/control, n = 90). Leak-point pressure (LPP) was measured 4, 10, and 14 days later. Urethras were morphometrically evaluated. In another sets of VD and non-VD rats, the fate of periurethrally injected hMSC, biodistribution, and in vivo viability was studied using human Alu genomic repeat staining, PKH26 labeling, and luciferase-expression labeling, respectively. RESULTS Saline- and dermofibroblast-treated control rats demonstrated lower LPP than non-VD controls at days 4 and 14 (P < 0.01). LPP after systemic hMSC and periurethral hMSC treatment were comparable with non-VD controls at 4, 10, and 14 days (P > 0.05). Local saline controls demonstrated extensive urethral tissue bleeding. The connective tissue area/urethral section area proportion and vascular density were higher in the local hMSC- versus the saline-treated group at 4 and 14 days, respectively. No positive Alu-stained nuclei were observed in urethras at 4, 10, and 14 days. PKH26-labelled cells were found in all urethras at 2 and 24 h. Bioluminescence study showed increased luciferase expression from day 0 to 1 following hMSC injection. CONCLUSIONS Human MSCs restored the continence mechanism with an immediate and sustained effect in the VD model, while saline and dermofibroblast therapy did not. Human MSCs remained at the site of periurethral injection for <7 days. We hypothesize that periurethral hMSC treatment improves vascular, connective tissue, and hemorrhage status of urethral tissues after acute VD injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhina Sadeghi
- Urology Institute, University Hospitals of Case Medical Center, Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.,Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Justin Isariyawongse
- Urology Institute, University Hospitals of Case Medical Center, Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.,Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Michael Kavran
- Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kenan Izgi
- Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Gabriela Marini
- Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Laboratory of Experimental Research on Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Joseph Molter
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Firouz Daneshgari
- Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Chris A Flask
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Arnold Caplan
- Skeletal Research Center, Biology Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Adonis Hijaz
- Urology Institute, University Hospitals of Case Medical Center, Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. .,Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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