Bladder Regeneration Using Stem Cells from Patients Own Bone Marrow

Researchers have created a model that shows that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can be taken from the patients own body and used to help regenerate the bladder. This proves very useful for bladder regeneration and also shows great promise for other types of organ replacement therapies. Studies show that the plasticity of these particular stem cells make them ideal to use for bladder regeneration. Since the stem cells have similar phenotypic and physiological properties to the bladder smooth muscle cells, they serve to be a viable backup source for damaged bladder cells. In this particular study from the Feinburg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, they used primates as their model by combining mesenchymal cells with a baboon bladder. The results showed that the stem cells remained functional up to 10 weeks after the study began and they also retained the ability to express key smooth muscle cell markers. This is required for the constant contraction/expansion cycles of a functional bladder.

Current research is scarce when it comes to information on partial bladder regeneration in humans, but this primate model demonstrates the feasibility of mesenchymal stem cells in this regeneration process and shows valuable insight for how this process may apply to human research. It shows that these particular stem cells may be useful for other types of tissue engineering and shows promise for clinical trials of partial bladder regeneration.

I found this article interesting because it shows the promise of stem cell research without using embryonic stem cells that cause such a controversy. The research that is being explored in areas such as tissue engineering and gene therapy is very cutting edge and exciting. I am looking forward to seeing what else comes from this study of partial bladder regeneration in a baboon bladder using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101123101544.htm