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The bladder as a bioreactor: Urothelium production and secretion of growth hormone into urine

Nature Biotechnology volume 16, pages 75–79 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

Uroplakin genes are expressed in a bladder-specific and differentiation-dependent fashion. Using a 3.6-kb promoter of mouse uroplakin II gene, we have generated transgenic mice that express human growth hormone (hGH) in their bladder epithelium, resulting in its secretion into the urine at 100–500 ng/ml. The levels of urine hGH concentration remain constant for longer than 8 months. hGH is present as aggregates mostly in the uroplakin-delivering cytoplasmic vesicles that are targeted to fuse with the apical surface. Using the bladder as a bioreactor offers unique advantages, including the utility of all animals throughout their lives. Using urine, which contains little protein and lipid, as a starting material facilitates recombinant protein purification.

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Author notes

  1. David E. Kerr

    Present address: ZO4 Terril Hall, Department of Animal and Food Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405

  2. Kenneth R. Bondioli

    Present address: Columbia Farming Corp, P.O. Box 1160, Sherburne, NY, 13460

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gene Evaluation and Mapping Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, 20705

    David E. Kerr, Kenneth R. Bondioli & Robert J. Wall

  2. Epithelial Biology Unit, The Ronald Perelman Department of Dermatology, Departments of Pharmacology and Urology, Kaplan Cancer Center, New York University Medical School, New York, NY, 10016

    Fengxia Liang, Haiping Zhao & Tung-Tien Sun

  3. Department of Cell Biology, Kaplan Cancer Center, New York University Medical School, New York, NY, 10016

    Gert Kreibich

Authors
  1. David E. Kerr
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  2. Fengxia Liang
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  3. Kenneth R. Bondioli
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  4. Haiping Zhao
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  5. Gert Kreibich
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  6. Robert J. Wall
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  7. Tung-Tien Sun
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Correspondence to Robert J. Wall.

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Kerr, D., Liang, F., Bondioli, K. et al. The bladder as a bioreactor: Urothelium production and secretion of growth hormone into urine. Nat Biotechnol 16, 75–79 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0198-75

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