An Improved Understanding of the Pathophysiology of Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A 3D In Vitro Model under Static and Mechanical Loading Conditions.

ABSTRACT: The suboptimal outcomes of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery illustrate the demand for improved therapies. However, their development is hampered by the limited knowledge on the cellular pathophysiology of POP. Current investigations, that are limited to tissues and 2D in vitro models, provide highly inconclusive results on how the extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism and fibroblasts are affected in POP. This study uses a physiologically relevant 3D in vitro model to investigate the cellular pathophysiology of POP by determining the differences between POP and non-POP fibroblasts on ECM metabolism, proliferation, and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast (FMT) transition. This model, based on the synthetic and biomimetic polyisocyanide hydrogel, enables the incorporation of mechanical loading, wh

SUBMITTER: van Velthoven MJJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11469184 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature