title: Mesenchymal stromal cells for sphincter regeneration.
abstract: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI), defined as the involuntary loss of considerable amounts of urine during increased abdominal pressure (exertion, effort, sneezing, coughing, etc.), is a severe problem to the individuals affected and a significant medical, social and economic challenge. SUI is associated with pelvic floor debility, absence of detrusor contraction, or a loss of control over the sphincter muscle apparatus. The pathology includes an increasing loss of muscle cells, replacement of muscular tissue with fibrous tissue, and general aging associated processes of the sphincter complex. When current therapies fail to cure or improve SUI, application of regeneration-competent cells may be an alternative therapeutic option. Here we discuss different aspects of the biology of mesenchymal stromal cells, which are relevant to their clinical applications and for regenerating the sphincter complex. However, there are reports in favor of and against cell-based therapies. We therefore summarize the potential and the risks of cell-based therapies for the treatment of SUI.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Research, Department of Internal Medicine, Section for Transplantation Immunology and Immunohematology, University of Tübingen, Germany; Clinical Research Group KFO 273, University of Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: gerd.klein@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Group KFO 273, University of Tübingen, Germany; Department of Urology, University of Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: m.hart@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Melanie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: jan.brinchmann@rr-research.no.
authors.forename: Jan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brinchmann
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Group KFO 273, University of Tübingen, Germany; Siegfried Weller Institute for Trauma Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Germany; Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: kfo273@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rolauffs
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Group KFO 273, University of Tübingen, Germany; Department of Urology, University of Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: urologie@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Arnulf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stenzl
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Group KFO 273, University of Tübingen, Germany; Department of Urology, University of Tübingen, Germany; Department of Urology, University of Lübeck Schleswig-Holstein, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. Electronic address: urologie@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Karl-Dietrich
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Sievert
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Group KFO 273, University of Tübingen, Germany; Department of Urology, University of Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: aicher@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Wilhelm K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Aicher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D032496:Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle / Q000637:transplantation; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Adult stem cell therapy; Cellular therapy; Mesenchymal stromal cells; Stem cell research; Stress urinary incontinence