Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy for female stress urinary incontinence

Abstract

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) adversely affects the quality of life of patients, while the currently available surgical and non-surgical therapies are not effective in all patients. Application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for regaining the ability to control urination has attracted interest. Herein, we reviewed the literature and analyzed recent studies on MSC-based therapies for SUI, summarized recent treatment strategies and their underlying mechanisms of action, while assessing their safety, effectiveness, and prospects. In addition, we traced and sorted the root literature and, from an experimental design perspective, divided the obtained results into four categories namely single MSC type therapy for SUI, MSC-based combination therapy for SUI, treatment of SUI with the MSC secretome, and other factors influencing MSC therapy. Although evidence demonstrates that the treatment strategies are safe and effective, the underlying mechanisms of action remain nebulous, hence more clinical trials are warranted. Therefore, future studies should focus on designing clinical trials of MSC-based therapies to determine the indications for treatment, cell dosage, appropriate surgical strategies, and optimal cell sources, and develop clinically relevant animal models to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying stem cell therapies improvement of SUI.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

“…In recent years, various types of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used to treat stress urinary incontinence due to their paracrine function, which contributes to tissue repair. There is some data supporting the feasibility and the safety of MCS therapy [54]. Besides, nerve growth factor (NGF) can contribute to nerve and muscle regeneration, and the study has investigated that a combination of stem cells and nerve growth factor (NGF) is more effective in relieving stress urinary incontinence than stem cell therapy alone [55].…”

The Systematic Review of Stem Cell Therapy for Stress Urinary Incontinence

“…During the filling phase, sympathetic nervous activity inhibits the detrusor and activates the smooth urethral muscles (unintentional), increasing the outlet resistance through hypogastric nerves and stimulation of alpha-adrenoreceptors. 3,4 Stem cells can differentiate into a range of cell types, with a characteristic capacity for continuous self-renewal. These cells are thereby self-sustaining and can differentiate into progenitor cells to replace aging cells undergoing apoptosis.…”