Recent insights into the cell biology of bladder smooth muscle

Abstract

Much of current biomedical research is focused on the development of 'targeted therapies' based on detailed knowledge about the signals that mediate aberrant cellular behavior in a given disease. Although this concept has been used most widely in cancer treatment, the same strategy applies to nonmalignant conditions such as pathologic tissue expansion in the genitourinary tract. A rigorous understanding of the key molecular events and pathways that underlie normal and pathologic activity of the bladder would allow us to identify potential targets for rational drug design. In this review, I will summarize our current understanding of cell signaling in bladder smooth muscle and highlight potential targets for drug-based treatment of tissue remodeling in the lower urinary tract.