Visualization of Uroplakin Expression in a Mouse Model of Urinary Schistosomiasis

Honorable Mention, Cases and Abstracts
Amber Kerk, Purdue University 

 

Amber R. E. Kerk1, Yi-Ju Hsieh2, Michael H. Hsieh2

1Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine

2Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine

Urinary schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease with global impact, which causes chronic urinary tract infections as well as increased risk of bladder cancer and HIV infection. It is the most prevalent form of schistosomiasis in humans world-wide, and is closely related to veterinary diseases caused by other species of schistosome. Infection with the causative parasite, Schistosoma haematobium, results in damage to the bladder lining as evidenced by the hematuria which is a hallmark feature of the disease. The presence of hematuria indicates damage to the bladder lining, which normally consists of an impermeable and flexible barrier. The primary component of this barrier is a meshwork made of tetramers of uroplakin proteins which form an interlocking structure on the luminal surface of the bladder. Previous work by our lab has shown that S. haematobium infection is associated with downregulation of uroplakin expression in the whole bladder.

 

To investigate the expression of uroplakins specifically in the urothelial lining of the bladder, transgenic RFP-uroplakin 1b mice were experimentally infected via bladder wall injection with infective S. haematobium eggs. At 7, 14, and 21 days after experimental infection, mice were sacrificed and immunohistochemistry for multiple urothelial markers was performed on the bladders. Digital processing of the images allowed fluorescence signals from only the urothelium to be analyzed. The relative fluorescence intensities of each marker were quantified and compared. Although no significant difference in relative fluorescence intensity was found between infected and control vehicle-injected bladders, this may be due to a lack of sensitivity in the immunohistochemistry techniques described here. Pursuit of further methods to refine this technique for investigating uroplakin expression in the bladder lining is ongoing.