Stress urinary incontinence affects millions of women in the United States and has substantial negative effects on quality of life. There is currently no effective preventive or medical option for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) other than surgical elevation of the urethra with sutures or a synthetic sling. Our current grant has confirmed that treatment with estrogen increase the chances of incontinence in our animal model of simulated birth trauma. The mechanisms underlying this increase in incontinence appeared to include perturbations of urethral alpha adrenergic receptor expression, changes in expression of the cellular messengers RhoA, ROCK-I, ROCK-II, and phosphorylated myosin light chain (pMLC), and reduction in urethral collagen I and elastic fiber content. In an attempt to develop preventive measures for SUI, we noted that early administration of growth hormone significantly reduced the incontinence rate in our animal model. Preservation of elastic and collagen fibers in the urethra was the factor most strongly associated with reduction of incontinence. Since the neuromuscular contributions to continence have already been extensively studied, in this renewal application we propose to study the contribution of the extracellular collagen and elastic fibers to the normal function of the urethra. For these studies we will use living cell/tissue imaging and molecular biology technique. In addition, we will test a safe and inexpensive strategy to prevent incontinence as well as develop a long-term, chronic incontinence model to test treatment options. Our goal is to translate the knowledge obtained in our laboratory to clinical applications for women suffering from SUI.

Public Health Relevance

Urinary leakage with coughing, sneezing or exercise (aka stress urinary incontinence, SUI) is a common medical problem in middle-aged and older women. In our current study, we determined that disruption of elastic and collagen fibers in the urethra is strongly associated with urine leakage in an animal model of SUI. This grant proposal will study means to stop birth-trauma mediated disruption of collagen and elastic fibers before it takes place and/or enhance repair of these fibers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK069655-08
Application #
8300243
Study Section
Urologic and Kidney Development and Genitourinary Diseases Study Section (UKGD)
Program Officer
Bavendam, Tamara G
Project Start
2005-04-01
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2012-08-01
Budget End
2013-07-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$382,459
Indirect Cost
$134,913
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Urology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
094878337
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143
Zhang, Xiaoyu; Alwaal, Amjad; Lin, Guiting et al. (2016) Urethral musculature and innervation in the female rat. Neurourol Urodyn 35:382-9
Lin, Guiting; Alwaal, Amjad; Sun, Fionna et al. (2015) Estrogen attenuates TGF-?1 induced elastogenesis in rat urethral smooth muscle cells by inhibiting Smad response elements. J Urol 193:2131-7
Ning, Hongxiu; Lei, Hong-En; Xu, Yong-De et al. (2014) Conversion of adipose-derived stem cells into natural killer-like cells with anti-tumor activities in nude mice. PLoS One 9:e106246
Lin, Ching-Shwun; Lue, Tom F (2013) Defining vascular stem cells. Stem Cells Dev 22:1018-26
Lin, Ching-Shwun; Albersen, Maarten; Xin, Zhongcheng et al. (2013) Phosphodiesterase-5 expression and function in the lower urinary tract: a critical review. Urology 81:480-7
Lin, Ching-Shwun; Xin, Zhong-Cheng; Dai, Jican et al. (2013) Commonly used mesenchymal stem cell markers and tracking labels: Limitations and challenges. Histol Histopathol 28:1109-16
Qiu, Xuefeng; Lin, Guiting; Xin, Zhongcheng et al. (2013) Effects of low-energy shockwave therapy on the erectile function and tissue of a diabetic rat model. J Sex Med 10:738-46
Lin, Ching-Shwun; Lue, Tom F (2013) Words of wisdom: re: characterization of the early proliferative response of the rodent bladder to subtotal cystectomy: a unique model of mammalian organ regeneration. Eur Urol 63:401-2
Lin, C-S; Xin, Z; Namiki, M et al. (2013) Direct androgen regulation of PDE5 gene or the lack thereof. Int J Impot Res 25:81-5
Ning, Hongxiu; Albersen, Maarten; Lin, Guiting et al. (2013) Effects of EdU labeling on mesenchymal stem cells. Cytotherapy 15:57-63

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