Asian J Androl. 2008 Jan;10(1):14-22.

Endothelium-specific gene and stem cell-based therapy for erectile dysfunction.

Strong TD, Gebska MA, Burnett AL, Champion HC, Bivalacqua TJ.

Abstract

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.

PMID: 18087639 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]