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Adherens junctions of the human detrusor
Author(s) -
Wagener Nina,
Reitz André,
Pfitzenmaier Jesco,
Pannek Jürgen,
Bastian Patrick J.,
Büttner Reinhard,
Müller Stefan C.,
Hohenfellner Markus,
Haferkamp Axel
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2005.05724.x
Subject(s) - adherens junction , cell junction , immunohistochemistry , pathology , urothelium , detrusor muscle , monoclonal antibody , antibody , urinary bladder , chemistry , medicine , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , urology , cadherin , immunology , biochemistry
OBJECTIVE To immunohistochemically identify the protein composition of adherens junctions, which couple smooth muscle cells mechanically, and to confirm their decrease in different bladder dysfunctions, as studies in geriatric bladder dysfunction show fewer such junctions in patients with detrusor overactivity (DO) and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). MATERIAL AND METHODS Detrusor biopsies were obtained from video‐urodynamically evaluated patients with neurogenic DO (NDO, 31 patients), BOO (six patients) and from six patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with stable, unobstructed detrusors (serving as controls). Specimens were fixed, paraffin‐embedded, sectioned, stained with a polyclonal pan‐cadherin antibody, monoclonal α‐, β‐ and γ‐catenin antibodies, and a monoclonal integrin‐β1 antibody. All antibodies were known to react with proteins of adherens junctions. Two examiners unaware of sample origin evaluated the sections qualitatively and using a semiquantitative scale. The results were correlated with the patient groups. RESULTS Specific immunohistochemical staining of pan‐cadherin, α‐, β‐ and γ‐catenin could not be detected in any detrusor smooth muscle compartment, but was present in the urothelium. There was integrin‐β1 reactivity in the basement membranes of bladder smooth muscle cells in 38 of 43 detrusor biopsies. There were no differences among the three groups. CONCLUSION The known proteins of cell‐cell adherens junctions are not part of the cell‐cell junctions of detrusor smooth muscle. The specific staining of integrin‐β1 indicates either the presence of cell‐matrix junctions or of cell‐cell junctions within the human detrusor. Further studies are needed to identify the complete protein composition of adherens junctions within smooth muscle cells.