Article
|
Open Access
Featured
-
-
Article
| Open AccessShape-recovery of implanted shape-memory devices remotely triggered via image-guided ultrasound heating
Focused ultrasound could be used to change the geometry of implanted shape-memory medical devices noninvasively. Here, the authors demonstrate this concept on large animal models, showing device removal and trigger drug release.
- Yang Zhu
- , Kaicheng Deng
- & William R. Wagner
-
Article
| Open AccessMicrobial co-occurrences on catheters from long-term catheterized patients
The authors examine temporal polymicrobial community composition in patients with long-term urinary catheters to identify species co-occurrences and demonstrate uropathogenic Escherichia coli augments growth of a prevalent opportunistic uropathogen in urine.
- Taylor M. Nye
- , Zongsen Zou
- & Scott J. Hultgren
-
Article
| Open AccessProstate cancer genetic risk and associated aggressive disease in men of African ancestry
Most genetic studies for prostate cancer have been performed outside the context of Sub-Saharan Africa. Here, the authors interrogate 247,780 exomic variants for 798 Black South African men and identify genes associated with aggressive disease.
- Pamela X. Y. Soh
- , Naledi Mmekwa
- & Vanessa M. Hayes
-
Article
| Open AccessDelineating the interplay between oncogenic pathways and immunity in anaplastic Wilms tumors
Treatment of diffuse anaplastic Wilms tumours (DAWT) remains a challenge. Here, the authors perform multi-omic analysis and identify a desert-like DAWT subtype accounting for one third of DAWT cases and suggest treating them with HDAC and/or WEE1 inhibitors.
- Xiaoping Su
- , Xiaofan Lu
- & Gabriel G. Malouf
-
Article
| Open AccessFour-dimensional hydrogel dressing adaptable to the urethral microenvironment for scarless urethral reconstruction
Urethral repair can be carried out using hydrogels, but the harsh microenvironment hinders the repair. Here, the authors report the development of a 4D hydrogel dressing that can provide an early-vascularised and later-antifibrogenic microenvironment to assist in scarless reconstruction.
- Yujie Hua
- , Kai Wang
- & Kaile Zhang
-
Article
| Open AccessProteogenomics of different urothelial bladder cancer stages reveals distinct molecular features for papillary cancer and carcinoma in situ
Urothelial bladder cancer (UC) progression occurs as a multi-step process that leads to different kinds of lesions and subtypes. Here, the authors characterise benign and invasive lesions that occur during UC progression using proteogenomics in patient samples and show critical molecular pathways and prognostic associations.
- Zhenmei Yao
- , Ning Xu
- & Chen Ding
-
Article
| Open AccessEngineered reporter phages for detection of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and Klebsiella in urine
Although diagnosis of urinary tract infections has improved through the use of point-of-care molecular technologies, they are however limited by poor specificity and / or sensitivity, and requirement of laboratory resources. In this work, the authors develop a bacteriophage-based diagnostic assay for the detection of prevalent uropathogens.
- Susanne Meile
- , Jiemin Du
- & Samuel Kilcher
-
Article
| Open AccessEnhancing bacteriophage therapeutics through in situ production and release of heterologous antimicrobial effectors
Du et al. genetically engineer bacteriophages into heterologous effector phage therapeutics, enabling dual phage- and effector-mediated targeting for a two-pronged attack against bacterial pathogens.
- Jiemin Du
- , Susanne Meile
- & Matthew Dunne
-
Article
| Open AccessA spatially anchored transcriptomic atlas of the human kidney papilla identifies significant immune injury in patients with stone disease
Kidney stone disease causes significant morbidity and increases in health care utilization. Here, the authors define the spatial molecular landscape and specific pathways contributing to stone-mediated injury in the human renal papilla and identify associated urinary biomarkers.
- Victor Hugo Canela
- , William S. Bowen
- & Tarek M. El-Achkar
-
Article
| Open AccessA magnetic hydrogel for the efficient retrieval of kidney stone fragments during ureteroscopy
The success of surgical kidney stone removal is limited by the ability to efficiently retrieve stone fragments, resulting in incomplete stone clearance and subsequent morbidity. Here, the authors show the efficacy and biocompatibility of a magnetic hydrogel that selectively coats human kidney stone fragments in vitro allowing their total extraction using a magnetic wire.
- T. Jessie Ge
- , Daniel Massana Roquero
- & Joseph C. Liao
-
Article
| Open AccessHistone H2A Lys130 acetylation epigenetically regulates androgen production in prostate cancer
The molecular mechanisms underlying androgen production in prostate cancer remain to be explored. Here, the authors reveal an epigenetic mark, K130Ac on H2A, following dual-phosphorylation on SREBP1 promoting de novo androgen synthesis to overcome the pharmacological inhibition of androgen synthesis.
- Thanh Nguyen
- , Dhivya Sridaran
- & Nupam P. Mahajan
-
Article
| Open AccessRectifying disorder of extracellular matrix to suppress urethral stricture by protein nanofilm-controlled drug delivery from urinary catheter
Various anti-fibrotic drugs have been applied to urethral stricture by irrigation or submucosal injection, but their clinical feasibility and effectiveness are limited. Here, the authors design a protein-based nanofilm-controlled drug delivery system with anti-biofilm properties that can be assembled on a catheter.
- Juanhua Tian
- , Delai Fu
- & Peng Yang
-
Article
| Open AccessStromal FOXF2 suppresses prostate cancer progression and metastasis by enhancing antitumor immunity
Forkhead transcription factor FoxF2 plays a crucial role in the development of organs derived from primitive gut. Here the authors show that reduction of Foxf2 expression in stromal cells is associated with high grade prostate cancer and that increasing prostatic stromal Foxf2 sensitizes prostate cancer to immune checkpoint blockade.
- Deyong Jia
- , Zhicheng Zhou
- & Li Xin
-
Article
| Open AccessCollaborative study from the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network for the genomic analysis of metastatic urothelial cancer
The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network established the UC-GENOME study in order to create a biobank and data repository for metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Here, the authors present the first characterization and analysis of DNA and RNA sequencing data from the 218 patients included in the UC-GENOME.
- Jeffrey S. Damrauer
- , Wolfgang Beckabir
- & Matthew I. Milowsky
-
Article
| Open AccessSingle-cell transcriptome atlas of the human corpus cavernosum
The corpus cavernosum is the most important structure for penile erection, and its dysfunction causes physiological and psychological problems. Here the authors perform single-cell RNA-sequencing on corpus cavernosum samples from males with normal erection and erectile dysfunction patients, providing insights into this pathology.
- LiangYu Zhao
- , Sha Han
- & Zheng Li
-
Article
| Open AccessAdvancing our understanding of genetic risk factors and potential personalized strategies for pelvic organ prolapse
Although pelvic organ prolapse is a common gynecological condition, the genetic component of disease risk is not well known. Here the authors find common genetic variants associated with the disease and present a polygenic risk score to enhance individual risk prediction.
- Natàlia Pujol-Gualdo
- , Kristi Läll
- & Triin Laisk
-
Article
| Open AccessTUBB4A interacts with MYH9 to protect the nucleus during cell migration and promotes prostate cancer via GSK3β/β-catenin signalling
The β-tubulin family protein TUBB4A is highly expressed in cancer but it’s molecular role is unclear. Here, the authors show that TUBB4A is required to protect the nucleus from genomic instability during migration and that it’s over expression promotes cancer progression.
- Song Gao
- , Shuaibin Wang
- & Lizhong Wang
-
Article
| Open AccessTNF is a potential therapeutic target to suppress prostatic inflammation and hyperplasia in autoimmune disease
Reduction of systemic autoimmunity using TNF blockers may also reduce inflammatory diseases in other organs. Here, the authors use a patient database and scRNA-seq to link autoimmune diseases to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and demonstrate that prostatic hyperplasia is reduced by TNF blockers in humans and mice.
- Renee E. Vickman
- , LaTayia Aaron-Brooks
- & Simon W. Hayward
-
Article
| Open AccessHyperpolarised 13C-MRI identifies the emergence of a glycolytic cell population within intermediate-risk human prostate cancer
Your paper will be accompanied by the following editor’s summary. Please let us know if there are any inaccuracies: ‘Hyperpolarised ¹³C-MRI is used to image cancer metabolism. Here the authors use this technique in prostate cancer and show that it can differentiate distinct disease states.
- Nikita Sushentsev
- , Mary A. McLean
- & Ferdia A. Gallagher
-
Article
| Open AccessAndrogen receptor and MYC equilibration centralizes on developmental super-enhancer
Androgen receptor in prostate cancer (PCa) transcriptionally represses multiple genes including MYC. Here, the authors suggest that increased MYC in response to androgen deprivation contributes to castration-resistant PCa, while decreased MYC may contribute to responses to supraphysiological androgen therapy.
- Haiyang Guo
- , Yiming Wu
- & Steven P. Balk
-
Article
| Open AccessAn infection-induced RhoB-Beclin 1-Hsp90 complex enhances clearance of uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Bacterial invasion can lead to multiple host cell responses. Here, the authors show that in a model of uropathogenic E. coli, RhoB is upregulated and induces autophagosome formation in a complex with Beclin1 and Hsp90, promoting bacterial clearance.
- Chunhui Miao
- , Mingyu Yu
- & Quan Wang
-
Article
| Open AccessInter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity of metastatic prostate cancer determined by digital spatial gene expression profiling
The inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity of metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) is underexplored. Here the authors use Digital Spatial Profiling to study gene and protein expression heterogeneity in 27 mPC patients, finding variation in associated pathways and potential immunotherapy targets.
- Lauren Brady
- , Michelle Kriner
- & Peter S. Nelson
-
Article
| Open AccessSingle-cell analysis of developing and azoospermia human testicles reveals central role of Sertoli cells
Non-obstructive azoospermia affects 1% of men. Here, authors perform single-cell transcriptomic analysis of human testicular cells from healthy donors and non-obstructive azoospermia patients and find that inhibition of Wnt signaling promotes the maturation of Sertoli cells from patients.
- LiangYu Zhao
- , ChenCheng Yao
- & Zheng Li
-
Article
| Open AccessReconstitution of prospermatogonial specification in vitro from human induced pluripotent stem cells
Spermatogonia establishment in the fetal and postnatal period is essential for spermatozoa production. Here the authors present a protocol for in vitro reconstitution of human prospermatogonial specification and perform single cell RNA-sequencing to delineate lineage trajectories.
- Young Sun Hwang
- , Shinnosuke Suzuki
- & Kotaro Sasaki
-
Article
| Open AccessSingle-cell RNA sequencing highlights the role of inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts in bladder urothelial carcinoma
Bladder urothelial carcinoma is one of the most prevalent urogenital cancer types with limited therapeutic options. Here, the authors characterize the tumor immune microenvironment of bladder cancer using single cell RNA sequencing and suggest a role for inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor progression.
- Zhaohui Chen
- , Lijie Zhou
- & Ke Chen
-
Article
| Open AccessDisruption of Cav1.2-mediated signaling is a pathway for ketamine-induced pathology
Ketamine is a general anesthetic that is used also as an anti-depressant, but its use is associated with cystitis. Here, the authors show that ketamine is an antagonist of the Cav1.2 channel in bladder smooth muscle cells, that ablation of this channel in mice mimics the cystitis induced by ketamine, and show that this effect can be abrogated by an agonist of this ion channel.
- Huan Chen
- , David H. Vandorpe
- & Weiqun Yu
-
Article
| Open AccessInvasion of vaginal epithelial cells by uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Uropathogenic E. coli can adhere to vaginal epithelial cells preceding urinary tract infection (UTI). Here, Brannon et al. show that urinary E. coli isolates can not only adhere to, but also invade vaginal cells in mouse UTI models and in clinical samples obtained from women with recurrent UTI.
- John R. Brannon
- , Taryn L. Dunigan
- & Maria Hadjifrangiskou
-
Article
| Open AccessComputational analysis of pathological images enables a better diagnosis of TFE3 Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma
Translocation renal cell carcinoma is an aggressive form of renal cancer that is often misdiagnosed to other subtypes. Here the authors demonstrated that by using machine learning and H&E stained whole-slide images, an accurate diagnose of this particular type of renal cancer can be achieved.
- Jun Cheng
- , Zhi Han
- & Jie Zhang
-
Article
| Open AccessIdentification of a Zeb1 expressing basal stem cell subpopulation in the prostate
Heterogeneous populations of basal cells in the prostate epithelium contain stem cells. Here the authors show that Zeb1 marks a pool of prostate epithelial stem cells that self-renew, generate prostate glandular structures with all 3 epithelial cell types and are required for prostate basal cell development.
- Xue Wang
- , Haibo Xu
- & Helen He Zhu
-
Article
| Open AccessUrothelial organoids originating from Cd49fhigh mouse stem cells display Notch-dependent differentiation capacity
The biology of the urothelium has been difficult to study given the lack of methods to propagate these cells. Here, the authors generate mouse urothelial organoids derived from bladder urothelial cells with high CD49f/ITGA6 and define what regulates urothelium differentiation, which is PPARγ, EGFR and Notch signalling.
- Catarina P. Santos
- , Eleonora Lapi
- & Francisco X. Real
-
Article
| Open Access12 new susceptibility loci for prostate cancer identified by genome-wide association study in Japanese population
More than 170 genetic loci have been linked to prostate cancer risk, primarily based on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in European population. Here, the authors performed a GWAS on a Japanese cohort of prostate cancer patients, finding 12 new susceptibility loci, and identifying a polygenic risk for Japanese prostate cancer.
- Ryo Takata
- , Atsushi Takahashi
- & Hidewaki Nakagawa
-
Article
| Open AccessPopulation dynamics of an Escherichia coli ST131 lineage during recurrent urinary tract infection
Recurrent urinary tract infections occur in ~ 25% of women. Here, Beatson and colleagues use whole genome sequencing to track the dynamics of an E. coli ST131 clone in a single patient over a 5-year period. This study provides unique insights into pathogen evolution during recurrent urinary infection.
- Brian M. Forde
- , Leah W. Roberts
- & Scott A. Beatson
-
Article
| Open AccessAssociation of imputed prostate cancer transcriptome with disease risk reveals novel mechanisms
In prostate cancer, investigating aberrant gene expression may shed light on disease etiology. Here, the authors imputed expression transcriptome-wide for 233,955 European ancestry men, discovering and replicating the associations between prostatic expression for select genes and prostate cancer risk, including the highly prevalent gene fusion partner TMPRSS2. The authors furthermore integrate diverse functional genomic datasets to interpret the epigenetic mechanisms by which the implicated risk variants and genes modulate disease risk.
- Nima C. Emami
- , Linda Kachuri
- & John S. Witte
-
Article
| Open AccessProteostasis by STUB1/HSP70 complex controls sensitivity to androgen receptor targeted therapy in advanced prostate cancer
The AR-V7 isoform is associated with anti-androgen drug resistance in prostate cancer. Here, the authors show that AR-V7 protein stability is regulated by HSP70/STUB1 complex-mediated proteostasis which confers drug resistance in late stage prostate cancer. Inhibition of HSP70 re-sensitizes resistant cells to enzalutamide therapy.
- Chengfei Liu
- , Wei Lou
- & Allen C. Gao
-
Article
| Open AccessUrinary cell-free DNA is a versatile analyte for monitoring infections of the urinary tract
Urinary tract infections are one of the most common infections in humans. Here, the authors use urinary cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to comprehensively monitor host and pathogen dynamics in bacterial and viral urinary tract infections, and show that it is a versatile analyte for monitoring urinary tract infections.
- Philip Burnham
- , Darshana Dadhania
- & Iwijn De Vlaminck
-
Article
| Open AccessCulturing of female bladder bacteria reveals an interconnected urogenital microbiota
The female bladder seems to harbor a poorly characterized indigenous microbiota. Here, the authors isolate and genome-sequence 149 bacterial strains from catheterized urine of 77 women, generating a culture collection representing two thirds of the bacterial diversity within the samples.
- Krystal Thomas-White
- , Samuel C. Forster
- & Trevor D. Lawley
-
Article
| Open AccessRETRACTED ARTICLE: Liver X receptors constrain tumor development and metastasis dissemination in PTEN-deficient prostate cancer
Treatment of prostate cancer, especially in its advanced stage, is still challenging; therefore, strategies to prevent metastatic dissemination are of great interest. Here the authors reveal a crucial role for liver X receptors in suppressing prostate carcinogenesis and metastatic progression in PTEN-null tumors.
- Anthony Alioui
- , Julie Dufour
- & Silvère Baron