MedPath

Changes of microRNA Expression in Obstructive and Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction

Completed
Conditions
Disorder of the Lower Urinary Tract
Interventions
Procedure: Bladder biopsy
Procedure: Urodynamic study
Registration Number
NCT02410876
Lead Sponsor
Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
Brief Summary

Patients with obstructive or neurogenic lower urinary tract disease will be invited to participate. Upon agreement they will undergo an assessment of bladder function (questionnaires) and bladder biopsies at 2 time-points. Bladder biopsies will be evaluated for molecular changes in the laboratory and compared to the functional findings.By uncovering the molecular similarities and differences between BLUTD and NLUTD, the investigators will elucidate some of the causative factors in the development of these disorders and highlight the impact of myogenic and neurogenic components postulated to be involved. The project involves close collaboration between clinical and basic research.

Detailed Description

Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) has multiple causes including bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) as a result of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and neurological diseases including spinal cord injury (SCI). Manifestations of LUTD include storage symptoms such as increased daytime frequency, nocturia, urgency and urinary incontinence and voiding symptoms such as slow stream, hesitancy and incomplete emptying. The consequences of both BOO-induced (BLUTD) and neurogenic LUTD (NLUTD), leading to functional entities including the low compliance high pressure bladder as well as the acontractile high volume low pressure bladder, are believed to share some pathogenetic mechanisms.

In a previous project, the investigators have established micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression profiles of several urodynamically defined states of BLUTD. In this follow-up project, the investigators propose to extend these studies, undertaking a comparative miRNA and RNA profiling of BLUTD and NLUTD, and investigate the dynamic alteration of microRNA expression in different functional manifestations of disease. The investigators propose to validate primary gene targets of miRNAs differentially expressed in urodynamically defined states of BLUTD and identify signaling pathways, activated during the progression from hypertrophy to decompensation. Monitoring the reversal of changes in miRNA expression after relief of obstruction and restoration of normal bladder function will help delineate the key BOO-induced miRNAs with regulatory potential. Similarly, the dynamics of miRNA alteration, observed in SCI patients during the development and management of NLUTD should reveal the role of miRNA in gene expression regulation during neurogenic-induced organ remodelling.

By uncovering the molecular similarities and differences between BLUTD and NLUTD, the investigators will elucidate some of the causative factors in the development of these disorders and highlight the impact of myogenic and neurogenic components postulated to be involved. The project involves close collaboration between clinical and basic research, and combines the analysis of human biopsy material with in vitro cell-based assays, creating a comprehensive platform for the dissection of molecular mechanisms of LUTD. This project will keep the momentum of the investigators' previous research and contribute to the basic and applied studies into bladder remodeling. It is a logical continuation of their on-going studies of the role of miRNAs in LUT disorders but represents a novel direction of research and has high diagnostic and therapeutic potential.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • Planned cystoscopy in anesthesia for upper tract stone treatment or microscopic hematuria evaluation (controls)
  • Planned TURP (transurethral prostate resection) (BLUTD)
  • Spinal cord injury (in last 6 weeks) (NLUTD)
  • Prior urodynamic study
  • Informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Age < 18 years old
  • Pregnancy
  • Urinary tract infection
  • History of or current genitourinary tuberculosis, bladder malignancy, radiotherapy.

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ControlsBladder biopsyNo lower urinary tract symptoms undergoing cystoscopy in anesthesia for stone treatment or microhematuria assessment.
Prostatic obstruction/acontractileBladder biopsyLow flow to no flow, no measurable detrusor activity on urodynamic evaluation, cystoscopy in line with obstruction. Bladder biopsy at TURP (transurethral resection prostate) 3 months later urodynamic study and bladder biopsy
Prostatic obstruction/acontractileUrodynamic studyLow flow to no flow, no measurable detrusor activity on urodynamic evaluation, cystoscopy in line with obstruction. Bladder biopsy at TURP (transurethral resection prostate) 3 months later urodynamic study and bladder biopsy
Spinal cord injury/acontractileBladder biopsyPatients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) with no (neither spontaneous nor provoked) detrusor activity during the filling phase of urodynamics. Bladder biopsy 6 weeks after trauma 6 months later urodynamic study and bladder biopsy
Prostatic obstruction/ obstructedBladder biopsyObstruction according to Schäfer nomogram on urodynamic evaluation. Bladder biopsy at TURP 3 months later urodynamic study and bladder biopsy
Prostatic obstruction/ obstructedUrodynamic studyObstruction according to Schäfer nomogram on urodynamic evaluation. Bladder biopsy at TURP 3 months later urodynamic study and bladder biopsy
Spinal cord injury/acontractileUrodynamic studyPatients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) with no (neither spontaneous nor provoked) detrusor activity during the filling phase of urodynamics. Bladder biopsy 6 weeks after trauma 6 months later urodynamic study and bladder biopsy
Spinal cord injury/Detrusor overactivityBladder biopsySCI patients with proven detrusor (urodynamics) overactivity during the filling phase. Bladder biopsy 6 weeks after trauma 6 months later urodynamic study and bladder biopsy
Spinal cord injury/Detrusor overactivityUrodynamic studySCI patients with proven detrusor (urodynamics) overactivity during the filling phase. Bladder biopsy 6 weeks after trauma 6 months later urodynamic study and bladder biopsy
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Establishment of mRNA targets and pathways defining a disease state and/or potentially amendable to pharmacological evaluation.8 years

Next generation sequencing of bladder wall tissue to determine changes in mRNAs and their targets and pathways

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Hospital Inselspital

🇨🇭

Bern, Switzerland

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath