Reconstruction of rabbit urethral epithelium with skin keratinocytes.
We have investigated the living skin equivalent (LSE) as an alternative source of plastic material for closing full-thickness epithelial-stromal urethral injuries. The possibility of transdifferentiation of epidermal keratinocytes, a component of 3D tissue constructs, was investigated in vivo in a model of the recovery of urethral injuries in laboratory rabbits. Autologous grafting of LSE in de-epithelialized urethra showed that skin keratinocytes placed in a specific in vivo microenvironment can be incorporated into the damaged area and function as urothelium. The use of EGFP transfected keratinocytes allowed us to identify transplanted cells. The reconstructed urethral tubes did not develop strictures or fistulas at the site of the grafted LSE. Immunohistochemical studies of neo-urothelium revealed EGFP-positive cells expressing the urothelial markers K7 and UP3.
N.K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova Str., 26, Moscow, 119334, Russia ; N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Ostrovityanova Str., 1, Moscow, 117997, Russia.
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Rogovaya
Morozov Children's Clinical Hospital, Moscow Department of Health Care, 4th Dobryninsky Per., 1, Moscow, 119049, Russia.
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Fayzulin
N.K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova Str., 26, Moscow, 119334, Russia.
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Vasiliev
A.I. Evdokimov State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Delegatskaya Str., 20/1, Moscow, 127473, Russia.
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Kononov
N.K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova Str., 26, Moscow, 119334, Russia.
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Terskikh
cell plasticity; epidermal stem cells; keratinocytes; tissue engineering; transdifferentiation; urothelium