Cadherin-11 is expressed in detrusor smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts of normal human bladder.

It has recently been found that detrusor smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts are coupled via gap junctions. However, gap junctions cannot account for strong physical interaction between cells, which has prompted the search for intercellular adhesion molecules. Cadherin-11 is a candidate for such a molecule, since it mediates the interaction of dermal myofibroblasts in contractile wound granulation tissue. We therefore hypothesised that the physical adhesion between detrusor smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts is mediated by cadherin-11. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis. Bladder biopsies from eight radical cystectomy specimens were snap-frozen, sectioned, and stained for E-cadherin; cadherin-11; alpha-catenin; beta-catenin; gamma-catenin; and smooth muscle cell/myofibroblast markers connexin-43, vimentin, desmin, smooth muscle actin, and smoothelin. Specimens were analysed by using binocular epifluorescent and confocal laser-scanning microscopy. Specific positive membranous expression of all adhesion complex molecules except E-cadherin was detected in detrusor suburothelial tissue. All biopsies showed a similar punctate pattern of expression for cadherin-11 within bundles of smooth muscle cells and a suburothelial layer of cells. Cadherin-11 was specifically located at the cell membrane, in distinct linear domains. To our knowledge this is the first time evidence has been provided for cadherin-mediated smooth muscle and suburothelial myofibroblast cell-cell interaction in the human bladder. Cadherin-11 most probably plays an important role in the intercellular physical coupling of detrusor smooth muscle cells and also of myofibroblasts.