Potential of adipose-derived stem cells for treatment of erectile dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are a somatic stem cell population contained in fat tissue that possess the ability for self-renewal, differentiation into one or more phenotypes, and functional regeneration of damaged tissue, which may benefit the recovery of erectile function by using a stem cell-based therapy.


OBJECTIVE
To review available evidence concerning ADSCs availability, differentiation into functional cells, and the potential of these cells for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).


METHODS
We examined the current data (from 1964 to 2008) associated with the definition, characterization, differentiation, and application of ADSCs, as well as other kinds of stem cells for the cell-based therapies of ED.


METHODS
There is strong evidence supporting the concept that ADSCs may be a potential stem cell therapy source in treating ED.


RESULTS
The ADSCs are paravascularly localized in the adipose tissue. Under specific induction medium conditions, these cells differentiated into neuron-like cells, smooth muscle cells, and endothelium in vitro. The insulin-like growth factor/insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF/IGFR) pathway participates in neuronal differentiation while the fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) pathway is involved in endothelium differentiation. In a preliminary in vivo experiment, the ADSCs functionally recovered the damaged erectile function. However, the underlying mechanism needs to be further examined.


CONCLUSIONS
The ADSCs are a potential source for stem cell-based therapies, which imply the possibility of an effective clinical therapy for ED in the near future.
Lin
Guiting
G
School of Medicine, Department of Urology, University of California-Knuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, San Francisco, CA 94143-0738, USA. glin@urology.ucsf.edu
Banie
Lia
L
Ning
Hongxiu
H
Bella
Anthony J
AJ
Lin
Ching-Shwun
CS
Lue
Tom F
TF
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin / Q000378:metabolism; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000378:metabolism; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D005819:Genetic Markers; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin; D013002:Somatomedins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2