Assessing the effects of transforming growth factor-beta1 on bladder smooth muscle cell phenotype. II. Modulation of collagen organization.

Purpose: Pathological alterations in the relationship between cells and the extracellular matrix have a profound effect on tissue morphology and function. Transforming growth factor-beta1 is thought to have a role in bladder pathology by modulating the bladder smooth muscle cell phenotype and, thus, interactions with the extracellular matrix. We investigated the effects of transforming growth factor-beta1 on the organization of an in vitro extracellular matrix by bladder smooth muscle cells.

Assessing the effects of transforming growth factor-beta1 on bladder smooth muscle cell phenotype. I. Modulation of in vitro contractility.

Purpose: Modulation of the bladder smooth muscle cell phenotype contributes to the resulting bladder dysfunction in many pathological bladder conditions. Transforming growth factor-beta1 is an important regulator of cellular phenotype in fibrotic diseases that has specific effects on bladder smooth muscle cells associated with phenotypic changes. We verified transforming growth factor-beta1 expression in neurogenic bladder tissue and investigated its effects on bladder smooth muscle cell collagen gel contraction.

Synergistic effects of cyclic tension and transforming growth factor-beta1 on the aortic valve myofibroblast.

Background: Phenotypically, aortic valve interstitial cells are dynamic myofibroblasts, appearing contractile and activated in times of development, disease, and remodeling. The precise mechanism of phenotypic modulation is unclear, but it is speculated that both biomechanical and biochemical factors are influential. Therefore, we hypothesized that isolated and combined treatments of cyclic tension and transforming growth factor-beta1 would alter the phenotype and subsequent collagen biosynthesis of aortic valve interstitial cells in situ.

The role of MMP-I up-regulation in the increased compliance in muscle-derived stem cell-seeded small intestinal submucosa.

We have previously observed that muscle-derived stem cells (MDSC) seeded onto porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) increase the mechanical compliance of the engineered tissue construct [Lu SH, Sacks MS, Chung SY, Gloeckner DC, Pruchnic R, Huard J, et al. Biaxial mechanical properties of muscle-derived cell seeded small intestinal submucosa for bladder wall reconstitution. Biomaterials 2005;26(4):443-9].