Cell Specification
The urothelial cells, the cells lining the surface of the urinary bladder, are comprised of a unique cell type with high plasticity and a variety of cell functions. They are the first line of bladder defense and serve as an interface between pathogens that is equipped with several defense mechanisms to prevent adherence of pathogens and maintain impermeability to urinary solutes. The urothelial cells express both estrogen receptor-alpha and beta [1], epidermal growth factor receptor [2] and fibroblast growth factor receptor [3] and these receptors play a major role on urothelial cell response to injury and infection. They also release a number of cytokines and other immune system mediators and this newly recognized immunoregulatory potential of the urothelial cell warrants further investigation through the application of two recent developments: 1) the ability to culture normal urothelial cells in the laboratory and 2) the understanding of how immunoregulatory communications are generated for the biological functions of urothelial cells through signal transduction pathways.

HUC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human bladder. HUC are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 10⁵ cells in 1 ml volume. HUC are characterized by immunofluorescent method with antibodies to cytokeratin-18, -19 and vimentin. HUC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HUC are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings in the condition provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.

Recommended Medium
It is recommended to use Urothelial Cell Medium (UCM, Cat. No. 4321) for the culturing of HUC in vitro.

Product Use
HUC are for research use only. It is not approved for human or animal use, or for application in in vitro diagnostic procedures.

Storage
Directly and immediately transfer cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen upon receiving and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until cell culture needed for experiments.

Shipping
Dry ice.

Reference
[1] Bjorling, D. E. and Wang, Z. (2001) Estrogen and neuroinflammation. Urology 57:40-46.
[2] Daher, A., de Boer, W. I., El-Marjou, A., van der Kwast, T., Abbou, C. C., Thiery, J. P., Radvanyi, F., Chopin, D. K. (2003) Epidermal growth factor receptor regulates normal urothelial regeneration. Lab Invest 83:1333-41.
[3]. Bassuk, J. A., Cochrane, K., Mitchell, M. E. (2003) Induction of urothelial cell proliferation by fibroblast growth factor-7 in RAG1-deficient mice. Adv Exp Med Biol 539:623-33.