Ectopic Germinal Centres with B and T Cells and Follicular Dendritic Cell Networks in Urethral Stricture Tissue: Possible Avenue for Immunological Treatments
Background: The underlying cause of a urethral stricture can sometimes be obscure. It is possible that an injury to the urethra induces an immunological cascade that generates scar tissue and fibrosis, eventually resulting in a stricture. If such immunological reactions could be better elucidated, i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-05-01
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| Series: | European Urology Open Science |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666168321000628 |
| _version_ | 1819087553904508928 |
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| author | Teresa Olsen Ekerhult Ola Grimsholm Jenny Magnusson Christina Kåbjörn Gustafsson Ralph Peeker |
| author_facet | Teresa Olsen Ekerhult Ola Grimsholm Jenny Magnusson Christina Kåbjörn Gustafsson Ralph Peeker |
| author_sort | Teresa Olsen Ekerhult |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The underlying cause of a urethral stricture can sometimes be obscure. It is possible that an injury to the urethra induces an immunological cascade that generates scar tissue and fibrosis, eventually resulting in a stricture. If such immunological reactions could be better elucidated, immunological therapies could possibly emerge. Objective: To evaluate if ectopic germinal centres exist in urethral stricture disease. Design, setting, and participants: Resected stricture specimens from 45 patients undergoing open bulbar urethroplasty with excision and anastomosis were assessed. Histopathological characteristics, such as fibrosis (grade I–III), inflammation, and sclerosis, were evaluated using immunostaining for CD3 (T cells), CD20 (B cells), and CD21 (follicular dendritic cells). Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The primary outcome measure was the presence or absence of a germinal centre. The secondary outcome was evaluation of any correlation between the degree of fibrosis and germinal centres. Fisher’s exact test was used for univariate analysis. Results and limitations: In six patients, ectopic germinal centres were found. In ten patients, there was no inflammation at all. There was no correlation found between the degree of fibrosis and the abundance of immunohistochemically detected immune cells. Conclusions: Ectopic germinal centres, with B and T cells as well as follicular dendritic cell networks, do exist in urethral stricture disease. This finding may open up for novel research avenues on the possibility of adopting immunological treatments for urethral stricture disease. Patient summary: In patients with a narrowing of the urethra due to any kind of trauma, we looked for the presence of centres of immunological reaction in urethral tissue. We identified these immunological centres (also called germinal centres) in some patients. This intriguing finding suggests that immunological treatments may have potential for men with scar tissue in a narrowed urethra. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T21:37:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe738763f26b4ce0b7f3abfe49b33e1e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-1683 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T21:37:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Urology Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe738763f26b4ce0b7f3abfe49b33e1e2022-12-21T18:49:27ZengElsevierEuropean Urology Open Science2666-16832021-05-01278893Ectopic Germinal Centres with B and T Cells and Follicular Dendritic Cell Networks in Urethral Stricture Tissue: Possible Avenue for Immunological TreatmentsTeresa Olsen Ekerhult0Ola Grimsholm1Jenny Magnusson2Christina Kåbjörn Gustafsson3Ralph Peeker4Department of Urology, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Corresponding author. Department of Urology, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. Tel. +46 31 3429019.Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenDepartment of Urology, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenDepartment of Pathology, Ryhov Hospital, Jönköping, SwedenDepartment of Urology, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenBackground: The underlying cause of a urethral stricture can sometimes be obscure. It is possible that an injury to the urethra induces an immunological cascade that generates scar tissue and fibrosis, eventually resulting in a stricture. If such immunological reactions could be better elucidated, immunological therapies could possibly emerge. Objective: To evaluate if ectopic germinal centres exist in urethral stricture disease. Design, setting, and participants: Resected stricture specimens from 45 patients undergoing open bulbar urethroplasty with excision and anastomosis were assessed. Histopathological characteristics, such as fibrosis (grade I–III), inflammation, and sclerosis, were evaluated using immunostaining for CD3 (T cells), CD20 (B cells), and CD21 (follicular dendritic cells). Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The primary outcome measure was the presence or absence of a germinal centre. The secondary outcome was evaluation of any correlation between the degree of fibrosis and germinal centres. Fisher’s exact test was used for univariate analysis. Results and limitations: In six patients, ectopic germinal centres were found. In ten patients, there was no inflammation at all. There was no correlation found between the degree of fibrosis and the abundance of immunohistochemically detected immune cells. Conclusions: Ectopic germinal centres, with B and T cells as well as follicular dendritic cell networks, do exist in urethral stricture disease. This finding may open up for novel research avenues on the possibility of adopting immunological treatments for urethral stricture disease. Patient summary: In patients with a narrowing of the urethra due to any kind of trauma, we looked for the presence of centres of immunological reaction in urethral tissue. We identified these immunological centres (also called germinal centres) in some patients. This intriguing finding suggests that immunological treatments may have potential for men with scar tissue in a narrowed urethra.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666168321000628Urethral strictureSclerosisInflammationHistopathologyGerminal centreB cell |
| spellingShingle | Teresa Olsen Ekerhult Ola Grimsholm Jenny Magnusson Christina Kåbjörn Gustafsson Ralph Peeker Ectopic Germinal Centres with B and T Cells and Follicular Dendritic Cell Networks in Urethral Stricture Tissue: Possible Avenue for Immunological Treatments European Urology Open Science Urethral stricture Sclerosis Inflammation Histopathology Germinal centre B cell |
| title | Ectopic Germinal Centres with B and T Cells and Follicular Dendritic Cell Networks in Urethral Stricture Tissue: Possible Avenue for Immunological Treatments |
| title_full | Ectopic Germinal Centres with B and T Cells and Follicular Dendritic Cell Networks in Urethral Stricture Tissue: Possible Avenue for Immunological Treatments |
| title_fullStr | Ectopic Germinal Centres with B and T Cells and Follicular Dendritic Cell Networks in Urethral Stricture Tissue: Possible Avenue for Immunological Treatments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ectopic Germinal Centres with B and T Cells and Follicular Dendritic Cell Networks in Urethral Stricture Tissue: Possible Avenue for Immunological Treatments |
| title_short | Ectopic Germinal Centres with B and T Cells and Follicular Dendritic Cell Networks in Urethral Stricture Tissue: Possible Avenue for Immunological Treatments |
| title_sort | ectopic germinal centres with b and t cells and follicular dendritic cell networks in urethral stricture tissue possible avenue for immunological treatments |
| topic | Urethral stricture Sclerosis Inflammation Histopathology Germinal centre B cell |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666168321000628 |
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