Muscle derived stem cell therapy for stress urinary incontinence.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this article is to discuss the potential of muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) for rhabdosphincter regeneration and to review the early clinical experiences with its application in patients with stress urinary incontinence.


RESULTS
In anatomical and functional studies of the human and animal urethra, the middle urethral contained rhabdosphincter is critical for maintaining continence. Transplanted stem cells 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.


CONCLUSIONS
Cell-based therapies are most often associated with the use of autologous multipotent stem cells, such as bone marrow stromal cells. However, harvesting bone marrow stromal stem cells requires a general anesthetic, can be painful, and has variable yield of stem cells upon processing. In contrast, with appropriate experience, alternative autologous adult stem cells such as muscle-derived stem cells and adipose-derived stem cells can be obtained in large quantities and with minimal discomfort.
Smaldone
Marc C
MC
Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3471 5th Avenue, Suite 700, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3232, USA. smaldonemc@upmc.edu
Chancellor
Michael B
MB
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*