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Ishan M, Wang Z, Zhao P, Yao Y, Stice SL, Wells L, Mishina Y, Liu HX. Taste papilla cell differentiation requires the regulation of secretory protein production by ALK3-BMP signaling in the tongue mesenchyme. Development 2023; 150:dev201838. [PMID: 37680190 PMCID: PMC10560570 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Taste papillae are specialized organs, each of which comprises an epithelial wall hosting taste buds and a core of mesenchymal tissue. In the present study, we report that during early taste papilla development in mouse embryos, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling mediated by type 1 receptor ALK3 in the tongue mesenchyme is required for epithelial Wnt/β-catenin activity and taste papilla differentiation. Mesenchyme-specific knockout (cKO) of Alk3 using Wnt1-Cre and Sox10-Cre resulted in an absence of taste papillae at E12.0. Biochemical and cell differentiation analyses demonstrated that mesenchymal ALK3-BMP signaling governed the production of previously unappreciated secretory proteins, i.e. it suppressed those that inhibit and facilitated those that promote taste papilla differentiation. Bulk RNA-sequencing analysis revealed many more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the tongue epithelium than in the mesenchyme in Alk3 cKO versus control. Moreover, we detected downregulated epithelial Wnt/β-catenin signaling and found that taste papilla development in the Alk3 cKO was rescued by the GSK3β inhibitor LiCl, but not by Wnt3a. Our findings demonstrate for the first time the requirement of tongue mesenchyme in taste papilla cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Ishan
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, Department of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Zhonghou Wang
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, Department of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Peng Zhao
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Yao Yao
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, Department of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Steven L. Stice
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, Department of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Lance Wells
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Yuji Mishina
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Hong-Xiang Liu
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, Department of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Ishan M, Wang Z, Zhao P, Yao Y, Stice S, Wells L, Mishina Y, Liu HX. Taste papilla cell differentiation requires tongue mesenchyme via ALK3-BMP signaling to regulate the production of secretory proteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.03.535414. [PMID: 37066397 PMCID: PMC10103976 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.03.535414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Taste papillae are specialized organs each of which is comprised of an epithelial wall hosting taste buds and a core of mesenchymal tissue. In the present study, we report that during the early stages of embryonic development, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling mediated by type 1 receptor ALK3 in the tongue mesenchyme is required for the epithelial Wnt/β-catenin activity and taste papilla cell differentiation. Mesenchyme-specific knockout ( cKO ) of Alk3 using Wnt1-Cre and Sox10-Cre resulted in an absence of taste papillae at E12.0. Biochemical and cell differentiation analyses demonstrated that mesenchymal ALK3-BMP signaling governs the production of previously unappreciated secretory proteins, i.e., suppresses those that inhibiting and facilitates those promoting taste cell differentiation. Bulk RNA-Sequencing analysis revealed many more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the tongue epithelium than in the mesenchyme in Alk3 cKO vs control. Moreover, we detected a down-regulated epithelial Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and taste papilla development in the Alk3 cKO was rescued by GSK3β inhibitor LiCl, but not Wnt3a. Our findings demonstrate for the first time the requirement of tongue mesenchyme in taste papilla cell differentiation. Summary statement This is the first set of data to implicate the requirement of tongue mesenchyme in taste papilla cell differentiation.
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Hu J, Li J, Dai C, Ren J, Yang W, He C, Meng F, Dai C, Zeng S. HES1 deficiency impairs development of human intestinal mesenchyme by suppressing WNT5A expression. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 655:50-58. [PMID: 36933307 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Serious intestinal side-effects that target the NOTCH-HES1 pathway in human cancer differentiation therapy make it necessary to understand the pathway at the human organ level. Herein, we endogenously introduced HES1-/- mutations into human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and differentiated them into human intestinal organoids (HIO). The HES1-/- hESCs retained ES cell properties and showed gene expression patterns similar to those of wild-type hESCs when they differentiated into definitive endoderm and hindgut. During the formation of the HES1-/- lumen we noted an impaired development of mesenchymal cells in addition to the increased differentiation of secretory epithelium. RNA-Seq revealed that inhibited development of the mesenchymal cells may have been due to a downregulation of WNT5A signaling. Overexpression of HES1 and silencing of WNT5A in the intestinal fibroblast cell line CCD-18Co indicated that HES1 was involved in the activation of WNT5A-induced fibroblast growth and migration, suggesting the likelihood of the Notch pathway in epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk. Our results facilitated the identification of more precise underlying molecular mechanisms displaying distinct roles in HES1 signaling in stromal and epithelial development in human intestinal mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianmin Hu
- Hunan Guangxiu Hospital, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China; Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of Citic-Xiangya, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China
| | - Jin Li
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, PR China; Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Development and Carcinogenesis, National Engineering and Research Center of Human Stem Cells, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China
| | - Can Dai
- Hunan Guangxiu Hospital, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China; Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of Citic-Xiangya, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China
| | - Jinlin Ren
- Hunan Guangxiu Hospital, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China; Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Development and Carcinogenesis, National Engineering and Research Center of Human Stem Cells, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China
| | - Wenru Yang
- Hunan Guangxiu Hospital, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China
| | - Caixia He
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Development and Carcinogenesis, National Engineering and Research Center of Human Stem Cells, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China
| | - Fei Meng
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of Citic-Xiangya, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China
| | - Congling Dai
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, PR China; Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Development and Carcinogenesis, National Engineering and Research Center of Human Stem Cells, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China
| | - Sicong Zeng
- Hunan Guangxiu Hospital, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China; Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, PR China; Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Development and Carcinogenesis, National Engineering and Research Center of Human Stem Cells, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China; Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of Citic-Xiangya, Changsha, 410001, Hunan, China.
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Jerman UD, Veranič P, Cirman T, Kreft ME. Human Amniotic Membrane Enriched with Urinary Bladder Fibroblasts Promote the Re-Epithelization of Urothelial Injury. Cell Transplant 2021; 29:963689720946668. [PMID: 32841052 PMCID: PMC7563929 DOI: 10.1177/0963689720946668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Culturing cells in three-dimensional systems that include extracellular matrix
components and different cell types mimic the native tissue and as such provide
much more representative results than conventional two-dimensional cell
cultures. In order to develop biomimetic bladder tissue in vitro, we used human
amniotic membrane (AM) extracellular matrix as a scaffold for bladder
fibroblasts (BFs) and urothelial cells. Our aims were to evaluate the
integration of BFs into the AM stroma, to assess the differentiation of the
urothelium on BFs-enriched AM scaffolds, and to evaluate the AM as a urothelial
wound dressing. First, to achieve the optimal integration of BFs into AM stroma,
different intact and de- epithelialized AM (dAM) scaffolds were tested. BFs
secreted matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-2 and integrated into the
stroma of all types of AM scaffolds. Second, to establish urothelial tissue
equivalent, urothelial cells were seeded on dAM scaffolds enriched with BFs. The
BFs in the stroma of the AM scaffolds promoted (1) the proliferation of
urothelial cells, (2) the attachment of urothelial cells on AM basal lamina with
hemidesmosomes, and (3) development of multilayered urothelium with expressed
uroplakins and well-developed cell junctions. Third, we established an ex vivo
model of the injured bladder to evaluate the dAM as a wound dressing for
urothelial full-thickness injury. dAM acted as a promising wound dressing since
it enabled rapid re-epithelization of urothelial injury and integrated into the
bladder tissue. Herein, the developed urothelial tissue equivalents enable
further mechanistic studies of bladder epithelial–mesenchymal interactions, and
they could be applied as biomimetic models for preclinical testing of newly
developed drugs. Moreover, we could hypothesize that AM may be suitable as a
dressing of the wound that occurs during transurethral resection of bladder
tumor, since it could diminish the possibility of tumor recurrence, by promoting
the rapid re-epithelization of the urothelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urška Dragin Jerman
- Institute of Cell Biology, 37664Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Peter Veranič
- Institute of Cell Biology, 37664Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tina Cirman
- 86684Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mateja Erdani Kreft
- Institute of Cell Biology, 37664Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Genitourinary Tissue Engineering: Reconstruction and Research Models. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:bioengineering8070099. [PMID: 34356206 PMCID: PMC8301202 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8070099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue engineering is an emerging field of research that initially aimed to produce 3D tissues to bypass the lack of adequate tissues for the repair or replacement of deficient organs. The basis of tissue engineering protocols is to create scaffolds, which can have a synthetic or natural origin, seeded or not with cells. At the same time, more and more studies have indicated the low clinic translation rate of research realised using standard cell culture conditions, i.e., cells on plastic surfaces or using animal models that are too different from humans. New models are needed to mimic the 3D organisation of tissue and the cells themselves and the interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix. In this regard, urology and gynaecology fields are of particular interest. The urethra and vagina can be sites suffering from many pathologies without currently adequate treatment options. Due to the specific organisation of the human urethral/bladder and vaginal epithelium, current research models remain poorly representative. In this review, the anatomy, the current pathologies, and the treatments will be described before focusing on producing tissues and research models using tissue engineering. An emphasis is made on the self-assembly approach, which allows tissue production without the need for biomaterials.
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Ramuta TŽ, Kreft ME. Human Amniotic Membrane and Amniotic Membrane-Derived Cells: How Far Are We from Their Use in Regenerative and Reconstructive Urology? Cell Transplant 2019; 27:77-92. [PMID: 29562770 PMCID: PMC6434475 DOI: 10.1177/0963689717725528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Human amniotic membrane (hAM) is the innermost layer of fetal membranes, which surrounds the developing fetus and forms the amniotic cavity. hAM and hAM-derived cells possess many properties that make them suitable for use in regenerative medicine, such as low immunogenicity, promotion of epithelization, anti-inflammatory properties, angiogenic and antiangiogenic properties, antifibrotic properties, antimicrobial properties, and anticancer properties. Many pathological conditions of the urinary tract lead to organ damage or complete loss of function. Consequently, the reconstruction or replacement of damaged organs is needed, which makes searching for new approaches in regenerative and reconstructive urology a necessity. The use of hAM for treating defects in kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra was tested in vitro in cell cultures and in vivo in mice, rats, rabbits, cats, dogs, and also in humans. These studies confirmed the advantages and the potential of hAM for use in regenerative and reconstructive urology as stated above. However, they also pointed out a few concerns we have to take into consideration. These are (1) the lack of a standardized protocol in hAM preparation and storage, (2) the heterogeneity of hAM, and especially (3) low mechanical strength of hAM. Before any wider use of hAM for treating urological defects, the protocols for preparation and storage will need to be standardized, followed by more studies on larger animals and clinical trials, which will altogether extensively assess the potential of hAM use in urological patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taja Železnik Ramuta
- 1 Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Cell biology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mateja Erdani Kreft
- 1 Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Cell biology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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The Use of Polymer Chitosan in Intravesical Treatment of Urinary Bladder Cancer and Infections. Polymers (Basel) 2018; 10:polym10030265. [PMID: 30966300 PMCID: PMC6414971 DOI: 10.3390/polym10030265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The most frequent diseases of the urinary bladder are bacterial infections and bladder cancers. For both diseases, very high recurrence rates are characteristic: 50⁻80% for bladder cancer and more than 50% for bladder infections, causing loss of millions of dollars per year for medical treatment and sick leave. Despite years of searching for better treatment, the prevalence of bladder infections and bladder cancer remains unchanged and is even increasing in recent years. Very encouraging results in treatment of both diseases recently culminated from studies combining biopolymer chitosan with immunotherapy, and chitosan with antibiotics for treatment of bladder cancer and cystitis, respectably. In both pathways of research, the discoveries involving chitosan reached a successful long-lasting cure. The property of chitosan that boosted the effectivity of illness-specific drugs is its ability to enhance the accessibility of these drugs to the very sources of both pathologies that individual treatments without chitosan failed to achieve. Chitosan can thus be recognised as a very promising co-player in treatment of bladder cancer and bacterial cystitis.
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A urine-dependent human urothelial organoid offers a potential alternative to rodent models of infection. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1238. [PMID: 29352171 PMCID: PMC5775255 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19690-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Murine models describe a defined host/pathogen interaction for urinary tract infection, but human cell studies are scant. Although recent human urothelial organoid models are promising, none demonstrate long-term tolerance to urine, the natural substrate of the tissue and of the uropathogens that live there. We developed a novel human organoid from progenitor cells which demonstrates key structural hallmarks and biomarkers of the urothelium. After three weeks of transwell culture with 100% urine at the apical interface, the organoid stratified into multiple layers. The apical surface differentiated into enlarged and flattened umbrella-like cells bearing characteristic tight junctions, structures resembling asymmetric unit membrane plaques, and a glycosaminoglycan layer. The apical cells also expressed cytokeratin-20, a spatial feature of the mammalian urothelium. Urine itself was necessary for full development, and undifferentiated cells were urine-tolerant despite the lack of membrane plaques and a glycosaminoglycan layer. Infection with Enterococcus faecalis revealed the expected invasive outcome, including urothelial sloughing and the formation of intracellular colonies similar to those previously observed in patient cells. This new biomimetic model could help illuminate invasive behaviours of uropathogens, and serve as a reproducible test bed for disease formation, treatment and resolution in patients.
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Lojk J, Bregar VB, Strojan K, Hudoklin S, Veranič P, Pavlin M, Kreft ME. Increased endocytosis of magnetic nanoparticles into cancerous urothelial cells versus normal urothelial cells. Histochem Cell Biol 2017; 149:45-59. [PMID: 28821965 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-017-1605-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The blood-urine barrier is the tightest and most impermeable barrier in the body and as such represents a problem for intravesical drug delivery applications. Differentiation-dependent low endocytotic rate of urothelial cells has already been noted; however, the differences in endocytosis of normal and cancer urothelial cells have not been exploited yet. Here we analysed the endocytosis of rhodamine B isothiocyanate-labelled polyacrylic acid-coated cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) in biomimetic urothelial in vitro models, i.e., in highly and partially differentiated normal urothelial cells, and in cancer cells of the papillary and invasive urothelial neoplasm. We demonstrated that NPs enter papillary and invasive urothelial neoplasm cells by ruffling of the plasma membrane and engulfment of NP aggregates by macropinocytotic mechanism. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and spectrophotometric analyses showed that the efficacy of NPs delivery into normal urothelial cells and intercellular space is largely restricted, while it is significantly higher in cancer urothelial cells. Moreover, we showed that the quantification of fluorescent NP internalization in cells or tissues based on fluorescence detection could be misleading and overestimated without TEM analysis. Our findings contribute to the understanding of endocytosis-mediated cellular uptake of NPs in cancer urothelial cells and reveal a highly selective mechanism to distinguish cancer and normal urothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasna Lojk
- Group for Nano and Biotechnological Applications, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vladimir Boštjan Bregar
- Group for Nano and Biotechnological Applications, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Klemen Strojan
- Group for Nano and Biotechnological Applications, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Samo Hudoklin
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Peter Veranič
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mojca Pavlin
- Group for Nano and Biotechnological Applications, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia. .,Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Mateja Erdani Kreft
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Spatiotemporal dynamics of androgen signaling underlie sexual differentiation and congenital malformations of the urethra and vagina. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E7510-E7517. [PMID: 27821748 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1610471113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Disorders of sex development (DSDs) are congenital anomalies that affect sexual differentiation of genitourinary organs and secondary sex characters. A common cause of female genital virilization is congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), in which excess androgen production during development of 46XX females can result in vaginal atresia, masculinization of the urethra, a single urogenital sinus, and clitoral hypertrophy or ambiguous external genitalia. Development of the vagina depends on sexual differentiation of the urogenital sinus ridge, an epithelial thickening that forms where the sex ducts attach to the anterior urethra. In females, the sinus ridge descends posteriorly to allow the vaginal opening to form in the vulva, whereas in males and in females with CAH, androgens inhibit descent of the sinus ridge. The mechanisms that regulate development of the female urethra and vagina are largely unknown. Here we show that the timing and duration of, and the cell population targeted by, androgen signaling determine the position of vaginal attachment to the urethra. Manipulations of androgen signaling in utero reveal a temporal window of development when sinus ridge fate is determined. Cell type-specific genetic deletions of androgen receptor (Ar) identify a subpopulation of mesenchymal cells that regulate sinus ridge morphogenesis. These results reveal a common mechanism that coordinates development of the vagina and feminization of the urethra, which may account for development of a single urogenital sinus in females exposed to excessive androgen during a critical period of prenatal development.
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Imani R, Pazoki M, Zupančič D, Kreft ME, Kralj-Iglič V, Veranič P, Iglič A. Biocompatibility of different nanostructured TiO 2 scaffolds and their potential for urologic applications. PROTOPLASMA 2016; 253:1439-1447. [PMID: 26497540 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-015-0896-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite great efforts in tissue engineering of the ureter, urinary bladder, and urethra, further research is needed in order to improve the patient's quality of life and minimize the economic burden of different lower urinary tract disorders. The nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) scaffolds have a wide range of clinical applications and are already widely used in orthopedic or dental medicine. The current study was conducted to synthesize TiO2 nanotubes by the anodization method and TiO2 nanowires and nanospheres by the chemical vapor deposition method. These scaffolds were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. In order to test the urologic applicability of generated TiO2 scaffolds, we seeded the normal porcine urothelial (NPU) cells on TiO2 nanotubes, TiO2 nanowires, TiO2 nanospheres, and on the standard porous membrane. The viability and growth of the cells were monitored everyday, and after 3 weeks of culturing, the analysis with scanning electron microscope (SEM) was performed. Our results showed that the NPU cells were attached on all scaffolds; they were viable and formed a multilayered epithelium, i.e., urothelium. The apical plasma membrane of the majority of superficial NPU cells, grown on all three different TiO2 scaffolds and on the porous membrane, exhibited microvilli; thus, indicating that they were at a similar differentiation stage. The maximal caliper diameter measurements of superficial NPU cells revealed significant alterations, with the largest cells being observed on nanowires and the smallest ones on the porous membrane. Our findings indicate that different nanostructured TiO2 scaffolds, especially nanowires, have a great potential for tissue engineering and should be further investigated for various urologic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roghayeh Imani
- Laboratory of Biophysics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška 25, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Laboratory of Clinical Biophysics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena 5, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Meysam Pazoki
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Physical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE 75120, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Daša Zupančič
- Institute of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mateja Erdani Kreft
- Institute of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Veronika Kralj-Iglič
- Laboratory of Clinical Biophysics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena 5, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Peter Veranič
- Institute of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Aleš Iglič
- Laboratory of Biophysics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška 25, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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