Open AccessEndothelium‐specific gene and stem cell‐based therapy for erectile dysfunction
Author(s) -
Strong Travis D.,
Gebska Milena A.,
Burnett Arthur L.,
Champion Hunter C.,
Bivalacqua Trinity J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
asian journal of andrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1745-7262
pISSN - 1008-682X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2008.00362.x
Subject(s) - erectile dysfunction , stem cell therapy , endothelial dysfunction , medicine , stem cell , genetic enhancement , endothelium , endothelial stem cell , bioinformatics , gene , transplantation , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , in vitro
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.