Biomedical subjects

J Oosterwijk-Wakka

Publications and source records attributed to J Oosterwijk-Wakka.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

A rabbit model to tissue engineer the bladder.

A rabbit model was used for the evaluation of a collagen-based biomatrix of small intestinal submucosa (SIS, COOK) in comparison to a biochemically reconstructed biomatrix for bladder tissue regeneration. Rabbits underwent partial cystectomy and cystoplasty with SIS patch graft or with a biochemically defined collagen biomatrix. The grafts of the regenerated bladder wall were harvested at different intervals and tissue regeneration was evaluated. The results of the SIS and biochemically defined biomatrix grafts were comparable. At harvesting, we found five bladder stones and encrustation of the biomatrix in 21/56 animals. No stone formation was observed in the control group. The results of the molecularly defined biomatrix are thus far comparable to SIS. Both matrices show good epithelialization and ingrowth of smooth muscle cells. Both biomatrices show considerable encrustation, which appears to disappear in time. The rabbit model is suitable for bladder tissue engineering studies as it is an easy model to use. In this model, besides tissue regeneration, also some of the clinical problems are seen such as encrustation of foreign body material in the bladder. These aspects are subject for further pre-clinical studies in this animal model.

Absorbable Implants↗

PubMed2003

Rabbit urethra replacement with a defined biomatrix or small intestinal submucosa.

OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of collagen-based biomatrix (SIS COOK((R))) in comparison to a biochemically reconstructed biomatrix for replacement of the urethra in a rabbit model as a preclinical model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rabbits underwent partial urethra replacement (resection of 0.5 to 1.0 cm segment of the urethra), which was replaced with 1 or 4 layers Small Intestinal Submucosa (SIS COOK) patch grafts or with a biochemically defined collagen biomatrix, partly sutured with unresolvable sutures for future reference. Six animals underwent a sham control operation. The grafts of regenerated urethras were harvested at 1, 3 and 9 months after implantation. Urethrography was performed pre-operatively and before sacrificing. The animals were evaluated macroscopically and by routine histology and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: At 1 month after implantation, the biomatrices (1 layer, 4 layers and our biochemically defined biomatrix) were well distinguishable from the normal surrounding tissues and showed blood vessels at the periphery. Macroscopically, the unresolvable reference sutures were easy to find at all time points. At 3 months the graft was still distinguishable in the 4 layers SIS group. In the 1 layer and the defined biomatrix group a good regeneration of the urethra within the graft was seen with some central fibrosis. Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation showed urothelium regeneration on the 1 layer and on biochemically defined biomatrix with decreasing number of inflammatory cells from 1 month on. In the group treated with 4 layers SIS the urothelium was completely regenerated at 3 months. Histologically, the regeneration of muscle cells in the three biomatrices was comparable. The smooth muscle cells regenerated very slowly as 1 month after implantation no muscle cells were detectable within the grafts. At 3 months a few muscle cells were present in the graft, but cell density did not increase in the following 6 months. Strictures were not observed on control urethrography pre-operatively in the animals. In one case slight narrowing of the urethra on urethrography was seen, but apparently without causing voiding problems. One rabbit developed a fistula near the operation site. CONCLUSION: The biomatrices investigated are feasible scaffolds to repair urethral lesions. The results with our biochemically defined biomatrix are comparable to one layer Small Intestinal Submucosa. Almost no smooth muscle cells population was observed after nine months for the three biomatrices. We conclude that an improved molecularly defined biomatrix focussed on stimulation of smooth muscle cell growth may be necessary to obtain optimal cellular grafting results.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Alterations in expression of cadherin-6 and E-cadherin during kidney development and in renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Cell-cell adhesion mediated by cadherins is tight and stable and preserves tissue integrity. However, during tissue remodeling, e.g., development, adhesion may be modified for morphogenic movement. Similarly, during carcinogenesis, cell-cell adhesion might alter leading to a more aggressive phenotype. Here we describe cadherin expression patterns in developing, adult, and neoplastic kidney. METHODS: Fetal kidneys were obtained from voluntary terminations of pregnancy and 43 renal cell carcinomas (RCC) and normal kidneys were obtained at nephrectomy. Frozen sections of these specimens were stained immunohistochemically using antibodies against E-cadherin (ECD), cadherin-6 (CAD6) and alpha-catenin (alpha-cat). RESULTS: CAD6 was expressed in lower and middle limbs of the S-shaped bodies, structures that will develop into renal proximal tubules, which also express CAD6. Similarly, ECD was expressed in the upper limb of S-shaped bodies, structures which will develop into distal and collecting tubules which also express ECD. Twenty-four out of 43 RCC (55.8%) displayed a CAD6 (+)/ECD (-)/alpha-cat (+) phenotype. The other RCC had a CAD6 (+)/ECD (+)/alpha-cat (+) phenotype (10/43, 23.2%), CAD6 (-)/ECD (+)/alpha-cat (+) phenotype (3/43, 7.0%) or CAD6 (-)/ECD (-)/alpha-cat (+) phenotype (6/43, 14.0%), respectively. On the other hand, normal, heterogeneous, or absent expression of CAD6 was seen in 19, 15, and 9 tumors, whereas in 11, 2, and 30 tumors, respectively, ECD expression was seen. Survival curves showed that abnormal CAD6 expression correlated with a poor prognosis rather than abnormal ECD expression. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of cadherin expression appeared to be fixed relatively early during kidney organogenesis. Since almost all RCC originate from proximal tubular epithelial cells (CAD6 (+)/ECD (-)/alpha-cat (+)), only 55. 8% of RCC retained the original cadherin phenotype. Alterations in expression of these molecules may be a reflection of the degree of dedifferentiation from the primary organ. In addition, scoring of expression patterns including heterogeneous expression could be a useful tool to estimate the malignancy potential of the tumor.

Cadherins↗

PubMed1999

Pretargeting of renal cell carcinoma: improved tumor targeting with a bivalent chelate.

Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can target tumors selectively. Sustained activity levels in nontarget tissues limit their application. Pretargeting approaches using bispecific mAbs (bsmAbs) or the biotinavidin interaction have been proposed to improve tumor:nontumor ratios. Pretargeting a tumor and subsequently administering the radioactivity as a low molecular weight ligand fundamentally changes the pharmacokinetics of the radiolabel. In previous studies, we have shown successful radioimmunotargeting of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) labeled with indium-111 to renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after pretargeting in nude mice. In this study, we aimed to optimize further a pretargeting strategy in nude mice with RCC xenografts based on a bispecific anti-RCC x anti-DTPA mAb. Using this two-step approach, we studied whether the use of a bivalent chelate ((111)In-diDTPA) could improve radioimmunotargeting. The (111)In-diDTPA dose greatly affected the uptake of the radiolabeled chelate in the tumor. At a low (111)In-diDTPA dose (< or = 7 pmol), tumor uptake of (111)In-diDTPA was very high [>50% injected dose (ID)/g, 1 h postinjection (p.i.)], whereas at higher doses (> or = 20 pmol), tumor uptake of (111)In-diDTPA decreased (<30% ID/g). With monovalent (111)In-DTPA uptake of the radiolabel in the tumor was much lower (<10% ID/g, 1 h p.i.). Furthermore, the bivalent chelate accreted rapidly in the tumor (78% ID/g, 4 h p.i.) and was virtually completely retained in the tumor during several days p.i. (92% ID/g, 72 h p.i.). Clearance of the (111)In-diDTPA from the blood and kidneys was rapid and complete without the need to clear the bsmAb from the blood, probably due to the relative lability of the univalent bsmAb-diDTPA complexes in the blood. As a result, with this two-step pretargeting approach tumor:blood ratios increased up to values as high as 3500 at 72 h p.i. High doses of diDTPA could be targeted preferentially to the tumor, indicating that this approach could also be used for radioimmunotherapy. Tumors could be imaged up to 1 week p.i. of 50 microCi of (111)In-diDTPA. Quantitative analysis of the images confirmed the biodistribution data and indicated that, at 20 h p.i., 50 +/- 15% of the whole-body activity was localized in the tumor. In conclusion, these studies indicate that the use of bivalent chelates can very effectively optimize two-step targeting of tumors with bsmAbs. Our data indicate that this approach could optimize radioimmunotherapy.

Animals↗