High-dose vitamin C improves BCG immunotherapy's efficacy in a murine ectopic model of bladder cancer.

Management of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMBIC) typically involves transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy. However, 30-50 % of patients may not respond to BCG or experience recurrence. High-dose vitamin C (VitC) has shown promise in improving the outcome of immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint blockade.

Comparative characterization of hydrogels from human amniotic membrane and umbilical cord: biological and physicochemical properties.

Background: Various forms of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM), including patches, powders, and hydrogels, have been applied to tissue engineering. Due to a broad need for alternatives to dECM, mostly derived from animal sources, human amniotic membrane (AM) and umbilical cord (UC) as disposable birthing materials can be suitable candidates. The present study developed hydrogels from AM and UC hydrogels and compared their physicochemical and biological properties.

Exploring the potential of solid and liquid amniotic membrane biomaterial in 3D models for prostate cancer research: A comparative analysis with 2D models.

Objective: Research and tools are necessary for understanding prostate cancer biology. 3D cell culture models have been created to overcome the limitations of animal models and 2D cell culture. The amniotic membrane (AM), a natural biomaterial, emerges as an ideal scaffold for 3D cultures due to its accessibility and incorporation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in both solid and liquid forms.

Decellularized amniotic membrane hydrogel promotes mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into smooth muscle cells.

Previous studies showed that the bladder extracellular matrix (B-ECM) could increase the differentiation efficiency of mesenchymal cells into smooth muscle cells (SMC). This study investigates the potential of human amniotic membrane-derived hydrogel (HAM-hydrogel) as an alternative to xenogeneic B-ECM for the myogenic differentiation of the rabbit adipose tissue-derived MSC (AD-MSC). Decellularized human amniotic membrane (HAM) and sheep urinary bladder (SUB) were utilized to create pre-gel solutions for hydrogel formation.

In vitro complete differentiation of human spermatogonial stem cells to morphologic spermatozoa using a hybrid hydrogel of agarose and laminin.

Spermatogenesis refers to the differentiation of the spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) located in the base seminiferous tubules into haploid spermatozoa. Prerequisites for in vitro spermatogenesis include an extracellular matrix (ECM), paracrine factors, and testicular somatic cells which play a supporting role for SSCs. Thus, the present study evaluated the potential of co-culturing Sertoli cells and SSCs embedded in a hybrid hydrogel of agarose and laminin, the main components of the ECM.

The effect of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes on the prostate, bladder, and renal cancer cell lines.

We aimed to explain the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-exosomes) on gene expressions of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Four different cell lines were employed, including ACHN, 5637, LNCaP, and PC3, as well-known representatives for renal, bladder, hormone-sensitive, and hormone-refractory prostate cancers, respectively. Cell lines were exposed to diverse concentrations of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes to find IC50 values.

The importance of personalized medicine in urological cancers.

A better understanding of key regulatory pathways involved in cancers has led to the development of molecularly targeted therapies. Molecular profiling based on genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in tumors provides clinicians with the necessary information to maintain a personalized therapeutic regimen according to the patient's needs. for example, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for advanced prostate cancer is one of the earliest forms of targeted therapy and has remained a choice of treatment by physicians.

Application of Tissue-Specific Extracellular Matrix in Tissue Engineering: Focus on Male Fertility Preservation.

In vitro spermatogenesis and xenotransplantation of the immature testicular tissues (ITT) are the experimental approaches that have been developed for creating seminiferous tubules-like functional structures in vitro and keeping the integrity of the ITTs in vivo, respectively. These strategies are rapidly developing in response to the growing prevalence of infertility in adolescent boys undergoing cancer treatment, by the logic that there is no sperm cryopreservation option for them. Recently, with the advances made in the field of tissue engineering and biomaterials, these methods have achieved promising results for fertility preservation.

Isolation, identification and differentiation of human spermatogonial cells on three-dimensional decellularized sheep testis.

Improvement of in vitro culture methods of Spermatogonial Stem Cells (SSCs) is known to be an effective procedure for further study of the process of spermatogenesis and can offer effective therapeutic modality for male infertility. Tissue decellularization by providing natural 3D and extracellular matrix (ECM) conditions for cell growth can be an alternative procedure to enhance in vitro culture conditions. In the present study, the testicular tissues were taken from brain death donors.

Three-dimensional co-culture of human spermatogonial stem cells with Sertoli cells in soft agar culture system supplemented by growth factors and Laminin.

Application of a three-dimensional (3D) culture system for in vitro proliferation and differentiation of human spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) is a useful tool for the investigation of the spermatogenesis process and the management of male infertility particularly in prepubertal cancer patients. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the proliferation of human SSCs co-cultured with Sertoli cells in soft agar culture system (SACS) supplemented by Laminin and growth factors. Testicular cells were isolated from testes of brain-dead patients and cultured in two-dimensional (2D) culture system for 3 weeks.

The air-liquid interface culture of the mechanically isolated seminiferous tubules embedded in agarose or alginate improves in vitro spermatogenesis at the expense of attenuating their integrity.

Optimization of tissue culture systems able to complete male germ cell maturation to post-meiotic stages is considered as an important matter in reproductive biology. Considering that hypoxia is one of the factors limiting the efficiency of organ culture, the aim of this study was to use isolated seminiferous tubules (STs), having more surface and less thickness, in an organotypic culture system in order to improve oxygen diffusion and reduce hypoxia. The mechanically separated STs embedded in agarose or alginate and 1-3-mm testicular tissue fragments of 3 adult mice were separately placed on the flat surface of agarose gel that was half-soaked in the medium.

Human Menstrual Blood Stem Cell-Derived Granulosa Cells Participate in Ovarian Follicle Formation in a Rat Model of Premature Ovarian Failure .

We recently reported the application of human menstrual blood stem cells' (HuMenSCs) transplantation as a treatment modality in a rat model of premature ovarian failure (POF). We continued to investigate further in this respect. Female rats were injected intraperitoneally with 36 mg/kg busulfan.

Efficiency of colony formation and differentiation of human spermatogenic cells in two different culture systems.

Optimization of in vitro culture system for the expansion and the maturation of male germ cells to post meiotic stages is a valuable tool for studies exploring spermatogenesis regulation and the management of male infertility. Several studies have reported promising results of mouse spermatogonial stem cells culture in three-dimensional (3D) culture systems and a subsequent production of sperm. In the present study, we investigated the capacity of a three-dimensional soft agar culture system (SACS) supplemented with Knockout Serum Replacement (KSR) in colony formation and inducing human germ cells to reach post-meiotic stages.

Organ culture of seminiferous tubules using a modified soft agar culture system.

Background: In-vitro spermatogenesis in mammalian species is considered an important topic in reproductive biology. New strategies for achieving a complete version of spermatogenesis ex vivo have been conducted using an organ culture method or culture of testicular cells in a three-dimensional soft agar culture system (SACS). The aim of this study was to develop a new method that supports spermatogenesis to the meiotic phase and morphologically mature spermatozoa through the culture of testicular cells and seminiferous tubules (STs) in a modified SACS, respectively.

In vitro effects of melatonin on colonization of neonate mouse spermatogonial stem cells.

We have recently reported that antioxidant supplements enhance the efficacy of cryopreserved spermatogonial stem cells. Melatonin is considered a free radical scavenger which has direct and indirect antioxidant effects in in vitro and in vivo microenvironments. Due to the anti-apoptotic properties of melatonin, researchers have proposed that melatonin may improve the efficiency of spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) transplantation.

Mixture of fibroblast, epithelial and endothelial cells conditioned media induce monocyte-derived dendritic cell maturation.

Fully matured DCs with large amount cytoplasm and copious dendritic projections were visible at the end of culturing period in the presence of MCM, TNF-α and poly (I:C), with or without FEECM. Thus, DCs generated with these maturation factors are nonadherent and have typical satellite morphology. Flow cytometric analysis using anti-CD14, -CD80, -CD86, -HLA-DR and -CD83 revealed that expression of CD14 is decreased in particular in FEECM treated DCs, on day 5 and expression of CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR was the higher when FEECM are added to maturation factor.