First Human Trials Have Started in Canada
Michael Chancellor, M.D. and colleagues have reported the results of using human
muscle- derived cells, pluripotent stem cells found in muscle, to cure stress
urinary incontinence in animal models, a finding which signals that these cells
are prime candidates to treat the condition in adults. The research was presented
at the annual meeting of the International Continence Society August 29 through
September 2 in Montreal.
In the study, Dr. Chancellor and colleagues injected the human muscle-derived stem cells into the periurethral muscle of a well-established animal model for stress urinary incontinence. After four weeks, the models’ leak-point pressure, the pressure at which urine would leak from the bladder, had been restored to levels that would be seen normally.
The researchers believe that the human muscle-derived cells were able to restore leak-point pressure to normal levels by differentiating into new muscle fibers, which prevented periurethral muscle atrophy. They will be returning to the lab to identify exactly how these cells work to regenerate muscle.
Clinical trials using muscle-derived cell therapy for incontinence have recently begun in Toronto.
Urinary incontinence affects 13 million Americans. Those with stress urinary incontinence involuntarily lose urine while doing activities that put stress on the abdomen, such as laughing, sneezing, coughing, lifting or walking. A result of damage to the urethral sphincter, stress incontinence is most often caused by childbirth, menopause or pelvic surgery.
For
additional reports from the Chancellor Group, please see:
MARIJUANA-DERIVED
DRUG SUPPRESSES BLADDER OVERACTIVITY AND IRRITATION IN ANIMAL MODELS
NEW
STUDY SUGGESTS MECHANISM OF ACTION FOR BOTOX IN THE TREATMENT OF ENLARGED
PROSTATE