Stem cell therapy for urethral sphincter regeneration.
Smaldone MC., Chen ML., Chancellor MB.
Narrative Review, published in Minerva Urol Nefrol (2008) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
- Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
- Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
- Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
- Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
- Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.
- Study type
- Narrative Review
- Journal
- Minerva Urol Nefrol (2008)
- Country
- Italy
- Reported sample size
- —
- Source database
- PubMed
- PMID
- 19002101
- Citations
- 15
Abstract (original English)
In anatomical and functional studies of the human and animal urethra, the middle urethral contained rhabdosphincter is critical for maintaining continence. Transplanted stem cells may have the ability to undergo self renewal and multipotent differentiation, leading to sphincter regeneration. In addition, such cells may release, or be engineered to release, neurotrophins with subsequent paracrine recruitment of endogenous host cells to concomitantly promote a regenerative response of nerve-integrated muscle. Cell-based therapies are most often associated with the use of autologous multipotent stem cells, such as the bone marrow stromal cells. However, harvesting bone marrow stromal stem cells is difficult, painful, and may yield low numbers of stem cells upon processing. In contrast, alternative autologous adult stem cells such as muscle derived stem cells (MDSCs) and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can be easily obtained in large quantities and with minimal discomfort. This chapter aims to discuss the neurophysiology of stress urinary incontinence (highlighting the importance of the middle urethra); current injectable cell sources for endoscopic treatment; and the potential of MDSCs for the delivery of neurotrophic factors.
What this study does not prove
- • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
- • This is a narrative review: it collects no new patient data and does not systematically appraise evidence quality.
Evidence level
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
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