Endothelium-specific gene and stem cell-based therapy for erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) commonly results from endothelial dysfunction of the systemic vasculature. Although phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are effective at treating most cases of ED, they must be taken routinely and are ineffectual for a meaningful number of men. In recent years gene and stem cell-based therapies targeted at the penile endothelium have been gaining momentum in preclinical studies. These early studies reveal that gene and stem cell-based therapies may be both enduring and efficacious, and may eventually lead to a cure for ED. The following review will highlight our current understanding of endothelial-specific gene and stem cell-based therapies performed to date in a number of experimental animal models.
Strong
Travis D
TD
Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Gebska
Milena A
MA
Burnett
Arthur L
AL
Champion
Hunter C
HC
Bivalacqua
Trinity J
TJ
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000628:therapy*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase