Human Urothelial Cells

Description

Human urothelial cells are primary epithelial cells isolated from normal human bladder tissue. These cells display characteristic epithelial morphology, adhering to culture surfaces and forming a stratified barrier that lines the urinary tract. They are cryopreserved following initial expansion to preserve their native phenotype and demonstrate limited proliferative capacity in vitro. Functionally, urothelial cells maintain urinary barrier integrity via uroplakin-enriched apical membranes and well-developed tight junctions. Key differentiation markers include cytokeratin 20 (CK20), specific to mature umbrella cells, and uroplakins (UPK1/2). These cells play a critical role in urothelial carcinoma pathogenesis and are implicated in chronic inflammatory conditions such as interstitial cystitis.

Application

• Human urothelial cells serve as a valuable in vitro model for various research applications. Their cultivation enables the study of immunoregulatory functions of urothelium and supports the development of disease models relevant to urinary tract. Moreover, they are particularly useful for high-throughput and high-content screening. Additionally, these cells provide a robust systme for investigating epithelial proliferation, stratification, and differentiation processes, making them indispensable tools in regenerative medicine, toxicology, and cancer research.