Adipose-derived stem cells can be induced into urothelium-like phenotype in vitro by indirect co-culture with porcine urothelium cells

Objective To explore the feasibility of phenotype transformation of human adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs)towards bladder urothelium cells by co-culture with porcine urothelium throughTrans-wellsystem.Methods ADSCs were isolated from human subcutaneous adipose tissue and co-cultured with pig urothelium throughTrans-wellsystem.The specific marker expressions of urothelium in ADSCs were examined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR at 3 weeks to evaluate the potential phenotype transformation,and the shape was observed at the same time.Results The shape was partially changed from a fibroblast-like to a polygonal in 3 weeks.But we can't find the paving stone cell shape which is specific of urothelium.After 3 weeks of culture,ADSCs expressed AE1/AE3 at protein level,Uroplakin-Ⅱat both protein and mRNA level.But the expression of the two makers was weaker than that in urothelium.Conclusions Our findings reveal that ADSCs can be induced into urothelium-like phenotype by indirect co-culture with pig urothelium.