Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30409188›Full record

ArticleStem cell research & therapy2018

Urothelium with barrier function differentiated from human urine-derived stem cells for potential use in urinary tract reconstruction.

Qian Wan, Geng Xiong, Guihua Liu, Thomas D Shupe, Guanghui Wei, Deying Zhang, Dan Liang, Xiongbing Lu, Anthony Atala, Yuanyuan Zhang

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Stem cell research & therapy, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
47citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
6.2field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

47 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 73 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  7. KRT5Stem cell research & therapy · 2025
    Article
  8. Challenges of using tissue engineering methods in the treatment of hypospadias.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 7 institutions in 2 countries.

Qian WanWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Geng XiongWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Guihua LiuWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Thomas D ShupeWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Guanghui WeiMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. ghwei@cqmu.edu.cn.
Deying ZhangWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Dan LiangState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Xiongbing LuDepartment of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital at Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
Anthony AtalaWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Yuanyuan ZhangWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. yzhang@wakehealth.edu.
Chongqing Medical University · CNSun Yat-sen University · CNWake Forest University · USChildren's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University · CNForest Institute · USNanchang University · CNSixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University · CN

Funding

Stem Cell Therapy Combined with Growth Factors for Stress Urinary IncontinenceR56DK100669 · NIDDK · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI ZHANG, YUANYUAN NO · 2014 to 2014
$116k
NIDDK NIH HHS R56 DK100669
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAutologous urothelial cells are often obtained via bladder biopsy to generate the bio-engineered urethra or bladder, while urine-derived stem cells (USC) can be obtained by a non-invasive approach. The objective of this study is to develop an optimal strategy for urothelium with permeability barrier properties using human USC which could be used for tissue repair in the urinary tract system.

methodsUSC were harvested from six healthy adult individuals. To optimize urothelial differentiation, five different differentiation methods were studied. The induced cells were assessed for gene and protein expression markers of urothelial cells via RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescent staining. Barrier function and ultrastructure of the tight junction were assessed with permeability assays and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Induced cells were both cultured on trans-well membranes and small intestinal submucosa, then investigated under histology analysis.

resultsDifferentiated USC expressed significantly higher levels of urothelial-specific transcripts and proteins (Uroplakin III and Ia), epithelial cell markers (CK20 and AE1/AE3), and tight junction markers (ZO-1, ZO-2, E-cadherin, and Cingulin) in a time-dependent manner, compared to non-induced USC. In vitro assays using fluorescent dye demonstrated a significant reduction in permeability of differentiated USC. In addition, transmission electron microscopy confirmed appropriate ultrastructure of urothelium differentiated from USC, including tight junction formation between neighboring cells, which was similar to positive controls. Furthermore, multilayered urothelial tissues formed 2 weeks after USC were differentiated on intestine submucosal matrix.

conclusionThe present study illustrates an optimal strategy for the generation of differentiated urothelium from stem cells isolated from the urine. The induced urothelium is phenotypically and functionally like native urothelium and has proposed uses in in vivo urological tissue repair or in vitro urethra or bladder modeling.

Indexed as

Cell DifferentiationAdultAnimalsBiomarkersCell Membrane PermeabilityCell ProliferationCell ShapeCollagenHumansMaleMiddle AgedStem CellsSwineTight JunctionsUrinary TractUrineBiomarkersCollagenBarrier functionBladder diseasesTight junctionsTissue engineeringUrine-derived stem cellsUrothelium

Identifiers

PMID30409188
PMCPMC6225683
OpenAlexW2900445666

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.