title: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells and erectile dysfunction: possibility of nutritional intervention?
abstract: To provide an overview of molecular and cellular processes involved in erectile dysfunction (ED) with emphasis on circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and discuss possible nutraceutical means of intervention. A review of literature on Pubmed related to EPC and ED was conducted. Patients with ED appear to possess a reduced number of circulating EPC, which is associated with poor endothelial function possibly as a result of underlying low-grade inflammation. Several studies support the possibility of improving erectile function by inhibition of inflammation as well as administration of various stem cell types. One particularly interesting approach is nutraceutical supplementation to increase circulating EPC, as demonstrated in the product Stem-Kine. Interventions aimed at increasing circulating EPC may have potential in treatment of vascular ED.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medistem Inc, San Diego, CA 92121, USA. thomas.ichim@gmail.com
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Ichim
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Mikirova
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hunninghake
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mansilla
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Angle
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dasanu
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Alexandrescu
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bogin
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Riordan
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D052756:Nutritional Sciences; D010413:Penis / Q000473:pathology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein