Bladder conditions like chronic Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) cause damage to the bladder epithelium (urothelium), but treatments that promote its regeneration are missing. Creating in vitro models of human bladder tissue can help us better understand these conditions and discover new ways to repair the bladder more effectively.
Impact
Chronic UTIs and IC/PBS affect millions of people worldwide. By recapitulating some key aspects of these conditions in vitro, we could contribute to developing new therapies that enhance urothelial repair, reducing pain and improving patients’ lives.
reNEW research
In the Aragona group, we study the principles that shape tissue architecture and homeostasis. Using this knowledge, we are developing in vitro models that can be used for drug screening.
Image description
In vitro model of the urothelium. The hexagonal-shaped cells are called umbrella cells, and they create a strong barrier that protects underlying tissues from urine and harmful pathogens.
Credits
Beatriz Teixeira, PhD student, Aragona Lab, reNEW Copenhagen.
