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Zhou J, Peng ZF, Yang LC, Liu SZ, Song P, Liu ZH, Wang LC, Chen JH, Ma K, Yu YF, Liu LR, Dong Q. Nomogram predicting the efficacy of transurethral surgery in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients. Aging Clin Exp Res 2024; 36:71. [PMID: 38485798 PMCID: PMC10940401 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-024-02708-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting the efficacy of transurethral surgery in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. METHODS Patients with BPH who underwent transurethral surgery in the West China Hospital and West China Shang Jin Hospital were enrolled. Patients were retrospectively involved as the training group and were prospectively recruited as the validation group for the nomogram. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to generate nomogram for predicting the efficacy of transurethral surgery. The discrimination of the nomogram was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration plots were applied to evaluate the calibration of the nomogram. RESULTS A total of 426 patients with BPH who underwent transurethral surgery were included in the study, and they were further divided into a training group (n = 245) and a validation group (n = 181). Age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.15, P < 0.01), the compliance of the bladder (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.20-4.67, P < 0.01), the function of the detrusor (OR 5.92, 95% CI 2.10-16.6, P < 0.01), and the bladder outlet obstruction (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.07-4.54, P < 0.01) were incorporated in the nomogram. The AUC of the nomogram was 0.825 in the training group, and 0.785 in the validation group, respectively. CONCLUSION The nomogram we developed included age, the compliance of the bladder, the function of the detrusor, and the severity of bladder outlet obstruction. The discrimination and calibration of the nomogram were confirmed by internal and external validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhu-Feng Peng
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Lu-Chen Yang
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sheng-Zhuo Liu
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Pan Song
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zheng-Huan Liu
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin-Chun Wang
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jun-Hao Chen
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kai Ma
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yun-Fei Yu
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Liang-Ren Liu
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qiang Dong
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Martinez-Vidal L, Testi C, Pontecorvo E, Pederzoli F, Alchera E, Locatelli I, Venegoni C, Spinelli A, Lucianò R, Salonia A, Podestà A, Ruocco G, Alfano M. Progressive alteration of murine bladder elasticity in actinic cystitis detected by Brillouin microscopy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:484. [PMID: 38177637 PMCID: PMC10766652 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-51006-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Bladder mechanical properties are critical for organ function and tissue homeostasis. Therefore, alterations of tissue mechanics are linked to disease onset and progression. This study aims to characterize the tissue elasticity of the murine bladder wall considering its different anatomical components, both in healthy conditions and in actinic cystitis, a state characterized by tissue fibrosis. Here, we exploit Brillouin microscopy, an emerging technique in the mechanobiology field that allows mapping tissue mechanics at the microscale, in non-contact mode and free of labeling. We show that Brillouin imaging of bladder tissues is able to recognize the different anatomical components of the bladder wall, confirmed by histopathological analysis, showing different tissue mechanical properties of the physiological bladder, as well as a significant alteration in the presence of tissue fibrosis. Our results point out the potential use of Brillouin imaging on clinically relevant samples as a complementary technique to histopathological analysis, deciphering complex mechanical alteration of each tissue layer of an organ that strongly relies on mechanical properties to perform its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Martinez-Vidal
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132, Milan, Italy.
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
| | - Claudia Testi
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Roma, Italy.
| | - Emanuele Pontecorvo
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Roma, Italy
- CrestOptics S.p.A., Via Di Torre Rossa, 66, 00165, Roma, Italy
| | - Filippo Pederzoli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Alchera
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Irene Locatelli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Venegoni
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonello Spinelli
- Experimental Imaging Centre, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Lucianò
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Salonia
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Podestà
- Dipartimento Di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli" and CIMAINA, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ruocco
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Roma, Italy
- Dipartimento Di Fisica, Universitá Di Roma "La Sapienza", Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Massimo Alfano
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132, Milan, Italy
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Apodaca G. Defining the molecular fingerprint of bladder and kidney fibroblasts. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2023; 325:F826-F856. [PMID: 37823192 PMCID: PMC10886799 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00284.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts are integral to the organization and function of all organs and play critical roles in pathologies such as fibrosis; however, we have limited understanding of the fibroblasts that populate the bladder and kidney. In this review, I describe how transcriptomics is leading to a revolution in our understanding of fibroblast biology by defining the molecular fingerprint (i.e., transcriptome) of universal and specialized fibroblast types, revealing gene signatures that allows one to resolve fibroblasts from other mesenchymal cell types, and providing a new comprehension of the fibroblast lineage. In the kidney, transcriptomics is giving us new insights into the molecular fingerprint of kidney fibroblasts, including those for cortical fibroblasts, medullary fibroblasts, and erythropoietin (EPO)-producing Norn fibroblasts, as well as new information about the gene signatures of kidney myofibroblasts and the transition of kidney fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. Transcriptomics has also revealed that the major cell type in the bladder interstitium is the fibroblast, and that multiple fibroblast types, each with their own molecular fingerprint, are found in the bladder wall. Interleaved throughout is a discussion of how transcriptomics can drive our future understanding of fibroblast identification, diversity, function, and their roles in bladder and kidney biology and physiology in health and in disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Apodaca
- Renal-Electrolyte Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
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4
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Hennig G, Saxena P, Broemer E, Herrera GM, Roccabianca S, Tykocki NR. Quantifying whole bladder biomechanics using the novel pentaplanar reflected image macroscopy system. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2023; 22:1685-1695. [PMID: 37249760 PMCID: PMC10511590 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-023-01727-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Optimal bladder compliance is essential to urinary bladder storage and voiding functions. Calculated as the change in filling volume per change in pressure, bladder compliance is used clinically to characterize changes in bladder wall biomechanical properties that associate with lower urinary tract dysfunction. But because this method calculates compliance without regard to wall structure or wall volume, it gives little insight into the mechanical properties of the bladder wall during filling. Thus, we developed Pentaplanar Reflected Image Macroscopy (PRIM): a novel ex vivo imaging method to accurately calculate bladder wall stress and stretch in real time during bladder filling. The PRIM system simultaneously records intravesical pressure, infused volume, and an image of the bladder in five distinct visual planes. Wall thickness and volume were then measured and used to calculate stress and stretch during filling. As predicted, wall stress was nonlinear; only when intravesical pressure exceeded ~ 15 mmHg did bladder wall stress rapidly increase with respect to stretch. This method of calculating compliance as stress vs stretch also showed that the mechanical properties of the bladder wall remain similar in bladders of varying capacity. This study demonstrates how wall tension, stress and stretch can be measured, quantified, and used to accurately define bladder wall biomechanics in terms of actual material properties and not pressure/volume changes. This method is especially useful for determining how changes in bladder biomechanics are altered in pathologies where profound bladder wall remodeling occurs, such as diabetes and spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant Hennig
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Pragya Saxena
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Eli Broemer
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University College of Engineering, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Gerald M Herrera
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Sara Roccabianca
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University College of Engineering, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Nathan R Tykocki
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
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Martinez-Vidal L, Chighizola M, Berardi M, Alchera E, Locatelli I, Pederzoli F, Venegoni C, Lucianò R, Milani P, Bielawski K, Salonia A, Podestà A, Alfano M. Micro-mechanical fingerprints of the rat bladder change in actinic cystitis and tumor presence. Commun Biol 2023; 6:217. [PMID: 36823431 PMCID: PMC9950451 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04572-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue mechanics determines tissue homeostasis, disease development and progression. Bladder strongly relies on its mechanical properties to perform its physiological function, but these are poorly unveiled under normal and pathological conditions. Here we characterize the mechanical fingerprints at the micro-scale level of the three tissue layers which compose the healthy bladder wall, and identify modifications associated with the onset and progression of pathological conditions (i.e., actinic cystitis and bladder cancer). We use two indentation-based instruments (an Atomic Force Microscope and a nanoindenter) and compare the micromechanical maps with a comprehensive histological analysis. We find that the healthy bladder wall is a mechanically inhomogeneous tissue, with a gradient of increasing stiffness from the urothelium to the lamina propria, which gradually decreases when reaching the muscle outer layer. Stiffening in fibrotic tissues correlate with increased deposition of dense extracellular matrix in the lamina propria. An increase in tissue compliance is observed before the onset and invasion of the tumor. By providing high resolution micromechanical investigation of each tissue layer of the bladder, we depict the intrinsic mechanical heterogeneity of the layers of a healthy bladder as compared with the mechanical properties alterations associated with either actinic cystitis or bladder tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Martinez-Vidal
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina, 60, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - M Chighizola
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - M Berardi
- Optics11, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- LaserLab, Department of Physics and Astronomy, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E Alchera
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - I Locatelli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - F Pederzoli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina, 60, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - C Venegoni
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - R Lucianò
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - P Milani
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | | | - A Salonia
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina, 60, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - A Podestà
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy.
| | - M Alfano
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy.
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Brossard C, Pouliet AL, Lefranc A, Benadjaoud M, Dos Santos M, Demarquay C, Buard V, Benderitter M, Simon JM, Milliat F, Chapel A. Mesenchymal stem cells limit vascular and epithelial damage and restore the impermeability of the urothelium in chronic radiation cystitis. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:5. [PMID: 36627674 PMCID: PMC9832809 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-03230-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellular therapy seems to be an innovative therapeutic alternative for which mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to be effective for interstitial and hemorrhagic cystitis. However, the action of MSCs on chronic radiation cystitis (CRC) remains to be demonstrated. The aim of this study was to set up a rat model of CRC and to evaluate the efficacy of MSCs and their mode of action. METHODS CRC was induced by single-dose localized irradiation of the whole bladder using two beams guided by tomography in female Sprague-Dawley rat. A dose range of 20-80 Gy with follow-up 3-12 months after irradiation was used to characterize the dose effect and the kinetics of radiation cystitis in rats. For the treatment, the dose of 40 Gy was retained, and in order to potentiate the effect of the MSCs, MSCs were isolated from adipose tissue. After expansion, they were injected intravenously during the pre-chronic phase. Three injections of 5 million MSCs were administered every fortnight. Follow-up was performed for 12 months after irradiation. RESULTS We observed that the intensity and frequency of hematuria are proportional to the irradiation dose, with a threshold at 40 Gy and the appearance of bleeding from 100 days post-irradiation. The MSCs reduced vascular damage as well as damage to the bladder epithelium. CONCLUSIONS These results are in favor of MSCs acting to limit progression of the chronic phase of radiation cystitis. MSC treatment may afford real hope for all patients suffering from chronic radiation cystitis resistant to conventional treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Brossard
- grid.418735.c0000 0001 1414 6236Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SERAMed/LRMed, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Anne-Laure Pouliet
- grid.418735.c0000 0001 1414 6236Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SERAMed/LRMed, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Anne‐Charlotte Lefranc
- grid.418735.c0000 0001 1414 6236Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SERAMed/LRMed, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Mohamedamine Benadjaoud
- grid.418735.c0000 0001 1414 6236Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SERAMed, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Morgane Dos Santos
- grid.418735.c0000 0001 1414 6236Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SERAMed/LRAcc, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Christelle Demarquay
- grid.418735.c0000 0001 1414 6236Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SERAMed/LRMed, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Valerie Buard
- grid.418735.c0000 0001 1414 6236Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SERAMed/LRMed, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Marc Benderitter
- grid.418735.c0000 0001 1414 6236Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SERAMed, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Jean-Marc Simon
- grid.411439.a0000 0001 2150 9058Département de Radiothérapie Oncologie, APHP, Hôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83 Boulevard de l’Hôpital, 75651 Paris Cedex 13, France
| | - Fabien Milliat
- grid.418735.c0000 0001 1414 6236Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SERAMed/LRMed, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Alain Chapel
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SERAMed/LRMed, 92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
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Clayton DR, Ruiz WG, Dalghi MG, Montalbetti N, Carattino MD, Apodaca G. Studies of ultrastructure, gene expression, and marker analysis reveal that mouse bladder PDGFRA + interstitial cells are fibroblasts. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2022; 323:F299-F321. [PMID: 35834272 PMCID: PMC9394772 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00135.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts are crucial to normal and abnormal organ and tissue biology, yet we lack basic insights into the fibroblasts that populate the bladder wall. Candidates may include bladder interstitial cells (also referred to as myofibroblasts, telocytes, and interstitial cells of Cajal-like cells), which express the fibroblast-associated marker PDGFRA along with VIM and CD34 but whose form and function remain enigmatic. By applying the latest insights in fibroblast transcriptomics, coupled with studies of gene expression, ultrastructure, and marker analysis, we observe the following: 1) that mouse bladder PDGFRA+ cells exhibit all of the ultrastructural hallmarks of fibroblasts including spindle shape, lack of basement membrane, abundant endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi, and formation of homotypic cell-cell contacts (but not heterotypic ones); 2) that they express multiple canonical fibroblast markers (including Col1a2, CD34, LY6A, and PDGFRA) along with the universal fibroblast genes Col15a1 and Pi16 but they do not express Kit; and 3) that PDGFRA+ fibroblasts include suburothelial ones (which express ACTA2, CAR3, LY6A, MYH10, TNC, VIM, Col1a2, and Col15a1), outer lamina propria ones (which express CD34, LY6A, PI16, VIM, Col1a2, Col15a1, and Pi16), intermuscular ones (which express CD34, VIM, Col1a2, Col15a1, and Pi16), and serosal ones (which express CD34, PI16, VIM, Col1a2, Col15a1, and Pi16). Collectively, our study revealed that the ultrastructure of PDFRA+ interstitial cells combined with their expression of multiple canonical and universal fibroblast-associated gene products indicates that they are fibroblasts. We further propose that there are four regionally distinct populations of fibroblasts in the bladder wall, which likely contribute to bladder function and dysfunction.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We currently lack basic insights into the fibroblasts that populate the bladder wall. By exploring the ultrastructure of mouse bladder connective tissue cells, combined with analyses of their gene and protein expression, our study revealed that PDGRA+ interstitial cells (also referred to as myofibroblasts, telocytes, and interstitial cells of Cajal-like cells) are fibroblasts and that the bladder wall contains multiple, regionally distinct populations of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis R Clayton
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Wily G Ruiz
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Marianela G Dalghi
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Marcelo D Carattino
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Gerard Apodaca
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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