2.1 Samples of human bladder
Samples of human bladder were obtained from 26 patients (11 women, 15 men; patients mean age = 49 ± 10 years; age range = 39–59 years) undergoing cystectomy owing to bladder cancer in the Second Hospital or Qilu Hospital of Shandong University. Tissues were examined by a uropathologist. No histological signs of inflammation or carcinoma were observed. After removal, each specimen was transported immediately to the laboratory for organ-bath experiments. A portion of each tissue was placed in formalin for immunofluorescence experiments.