title: The role of intrinsic pathway in apoptosis activation and progression in Peyronie's disease.
abstract: Peyronie's disease (PD) is characterized with formation of fibrous plaques which result in penile deformity, pain, and erectile dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in plaques from PD patients. Tunica albuginea from either PD or control patients was assessed for the expression of bax, bcl-2 and caspases 9 and 3 using immunohistochemistry and by measurement of apoptotic cells using TUNEL assay. Bax overexpression was observed in metaplastic bone tissue, in fibroblasts, and in myofibroblast of plaques from PD patients. Little or no bcl-2 immunostaining was detected in samples from either patients or controls. Caspase 3 immunostaining was very strong in fibrous tissue, in metaplasic bone osteocytes, and in primary ossification center osteoblasts. Moderate caspase 9 immunostaining was seen in fibrous cells plaques and in osteocytes and osteoblasts of primary ossification centers from PD patients. Control samples were negative for caspase 9 immunostaining. In PD patients the TUNEL immunoassay showed intense immunostaining of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, the absence of apoptotic cells in metaplasic bone tissue and on the border between fibrous and metaplastic bone tissue. Apoptosis occurs in stabilized PD plaques and is partly induced by the intrinsic pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1334-5054
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Rocca
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3620-2507
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anzalone
authors.affiliation: Department G.F. Ingrassia Section of Anatomic Pathology University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caltabiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, School of Medicine Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vespasiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castorina
authors.affiliation: University College London Hospital, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ralph
authors.affiliation: Cranfield Health Cranfield University, MK43 0AL, UK.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4856-285X
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cellek
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8095-8678
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giunta
authors.affiliation: Sava Perovic Foundation, Center for Genito-Urinary Reconstructive Surgery, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Rados
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Djinovic
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Urology, Clinical Center Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dragoslav
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8746-960X
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basic
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, School of Medicine Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sansalone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D055815:Young Adult; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9