title: Up-regulation of VEGF by small activator RNA in human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Functional failure of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells in corpus cavernosum contributes to erectile dysfunction (ED) in aging men. Given that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may improve the function of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells through different mechanisms, it is thus expected that increasing the expression of VEGF may have beneficial effects on erectile function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this article is to explore the possibility that VEGF can be induced by ribonucleic acid activation (RNAa) technology, and VEGF induction by RNAa has the potential of treating ED.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) were isolated and cultured in vitro. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin was detected by immunohistochemistry to identify CCSMCs. A previously identified VEGF promoter-targeted small activator RNA (saRNA, double-stranded [ds]VEGF-706) and a negative control dsRNA were chemically synthesized. Cultured human CCSMCs were transfected with the saRNAs. The expression of VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in transfected CCSMCs was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting assay, respectively. Immunofluorescent staining was also used to confirm VEGF protein expression in cultured CCSMCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of VEGF was assessed by RT quantitative PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After transfection, RT quantitative PCR analysis showed that the expression of VEGF mRNA was significantly induced in dsVEGF-706 transfected cells compared with cells receiving control treatments (P < 0.05). Consistent with mRNA induction, Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis showed that VEGF protein expression was also induced by dsVEGF-706.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF expression can be activated by RNAa in primary human CCSMCs, suggesting a potential application of RNAa-mediated VEGF activation for the treatment of ED.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Ruibao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shilin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shaogang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jihong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhangqun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000502:physiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A