A Population of Progenitor Cells in the Basal and Intermediate Layers of the Murine Bladder Urothelium Contributes to Urothelial Development and Regeneration

摘要

BackgroundHomeostatic maintenance and repair of the bladder urothelium has been attributed to proliferation of keratin 5-expressing basal cells (K5-BC) with subsequent differentiation into superficial cells. Recent evidence, however, suggests that the intermediate cell layer harbors a population of progenitor cells. We use label-retaining cell (LRC) methodology in conjunction with a clinically relevant model of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)-induced injury to characterize urothelial ontogeny during development and in response to diffuse urothelial injury.