Knockdown of miR-423-5p simultaneously upgrades the eNOS and VEGFa pathways in ADSCs and improves erectile function in diabetic rats

Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis of Stem Cell Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction

Purpose

As a common male disease, erectile dysfunction (ED) seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. In recent years, studies have continued to point out the great potential of stem cell therapy (SCT) in the treatment of ED. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively analyze the research of SCT for ED and understand the development trends and research frontiers in this field.

Methods

Publications regarding SCT and ED were retrieved and collected from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were then utilized for bibliometric and visualization analysis.

Results

A total of 524 publications were eventually included in this study. The annual number of publications in this field was increasing year by year. China and the USA were the two most productive countries. Lin GT, Lue TF and Lin CS, and the University of California San Francisco where they worked were the most productive research group and institution, respectively. The journal with the largest number of publications was The Journal of Sexual Medicine, and the following were mostly professional journals of urology and andrology. Diabetes mellitus-induced ED and cavernous nerve injury-related ED were the two most commonly constructed models of ED in studies. Concerning the types of stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose and bone marrow were most frequently used. Moreover, future research would mainly focus on exosomes, tissue engineering technology, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, and clinical translation.

Conclusion

The research of SCT for ED will receive increasing global attention in the future. Our study provided bibliometric and visualization analysis of published literature, helping researchers understand the global landscape and frontiers in this field. More preclinical and clinical studies should be conducted to more deeply explore the underlying mechanisms of treatment and promote clinical translation.

Artificial cavernosa-like tissue based on multibubble Matrigel and a human corpus cavernous fibroblast scaffold

Ex vivo tissue culture of the human corpus cavernosum (CC) can be used to explore the tissue structural changes and complex signaling networks. At present, artificial CC-like tissues based on acellular or three-dimensional (3D)-printed scaffolds are used to solve the scarcity of primary penis tissue samples. However, inconvenience and high costs limit the wide application of such methods. Here, we describe a simple, fast, and economical method of constructing artificial CC-like tissue. Human CC fibroblasts (FBs), endothelial cells (ECs), and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were expanded in vitro and mixed with Matrigel in specific proportions. A large number of bubbles were formed in the mixture by vortexing combined with pipette blowing, creating a porous, spongy, and spatial structure. The CC FBs produced a variety of signaling factors, showed multidirectional differentiation potential, and grew in a 3D grid in Matrigel, which is necessary for CC-like tissue to maintain a porous structure as a cell scaffold. Within the CC-like tissue, ECs covered the surface of the lumen, and SMCs were located inside the trabeculae, similar to the structure of the primary CC. Various cell components remained stable for 3 days in vitro, but the EC content decreased on the 7th day. Wingless/integrated (WNT) signaling activation led to lumen atrophy and increased tissue fibrosis in CC-like tissue, inducing the same changes in characteristics as in the primary CC. This study describes a preparation method for human artificial CC-like tissue that may provide an improved experimental platform for exploring the function and structure of the CC and conducting drug screening for erectile dysfunction therapy.

Methyl protodioscin reduces c-Myc to ameliorate diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction via downregulation of AKAP12

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction (DMED) is one of common complications of diabetes. We aimed to investigate the potential efficacy of methyl protodioscin (MPD) in DMED and explored the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Diabetic mice were induced by streptozotocin, while vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were stimulated with high glucose. MPD was administrated in vitro and in vivo to verify its efficacy on DMED. The interaction of c-Myc and AKAP12 was determined by luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay.

RESULTS

c-Myc and AKAP12 were upregulated in penile tissues in DMED mice. In high glucose-stimulated VSMCs or VECs, MPD intervention enhanced cell viability, inhibited apoptosis, decreased c-Myc and AKAP12, as well as elevated p-eNOS Ser1177. MPD-induced apoptosis inhibition, AKAP12 reduction and p-eNOSSer1177 elevation were reversed by AKAP12 overexpression. c-Myc functioned as a positive regulator of AKAP12. Overexpression of c-Myc reversed the effects induced by MPD in vitro, which was neutralized by AKAP12 silencing. MPD ameliorated erectile function in diabetic mice via inhibiting AKAP12.

CONCLUSIONS

MPD improved erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-caused diabetic mice by regulating c-Myc/AKAP12 pathway, indicating that MPD could be developed as a promising natural agent for the treatment of DMED.

Hyperglycemia-induced endothelial exosomes trigger trophoblast dysregulation and abnormal placentation through PUM2-mediated repression of SOX2

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycemia is closely related to adverse pregnancy outcomes including pre-eclampsia (PE), a life-threatening complication with a substantial morbidity and mortality. However, the pathogenesis of abnormal placentation in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)-associated PE remains elusive.

METHOD

Here we isolated exosomes from the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with normal level of glucose (NG) and high levels of glucose (HG). The exosomes were added to HTR-8a/SVneo cells, a trophoblast cell line. High-throughput RNA-sequencing was performed to analyzed the changed RNAs in the exosomes and exosome-treated HTR-8a/SVneo cells. HTR-8a/SVneo cell phenotypes were evaluated from the aspects of cell proliferation, cell invasion and DNA damage.

RESULTS

After treatment with HG, the changed RNAs in exosomes was enriched in RNA stabilization and oxidative stress. The altered RNAs in the HTR-8a/SVneo cells treated with exosomes from HG-induced HUVECs were enriched in pathways related to cell adhesion, migration, DNA damage response and angiogenesis. The HG-induced exosomes impaired the proliferation and invasion of HTR-8a cells and caused the DNA damage. HG up-regulated PUM2 in the exosomes and exosome-treated HTR-8a/SVneo cells. PUM2 interacted with SOX2 mRNA, resulting in the mRNA degradation. Overexpression of SOX2 prevented the damage to HTR-8a/SVneo cells caused by the exosomes from HG-induced HUVECs.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate that high glucose-induced endothelial exosomes mediate abnormal phenotypes of trophoblasts through PUM2-mediated repression of SOX2. Our results reveal a novel regulatory mechanism of hyperglycemia in development of abnormal placentation and provide potential targets for preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Molecular Regulation of Concomitant Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Erectile Dysfunction in Pelvic Ischemia

Aging correlates with greater incidence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) in the male population where the pathophysiological link remains elusive. The incidence of LUTS and ED correlates with the prevalence of vascular risk factors, implying potential role of arterial disorders in concomitant development of the two conditions. Human studies have revealed lower bladder and prostate blood flow in patients with LUTS suggesting that the severity of LUTS and ED correlates with the severity of vascular disorders. A close link between increased prostatic vascular resistance and greater incidence of LUTS and ED has been documented. Experimental models of atherosclerosis-induced chronic pelvic ischemia (CPI) showed increased contractile reactivity of prostatic and bladder tissues, impairment of penile erectile tissue relaxation, and simultaneous development of detrusor overactivity and ED. In the bladder, short-term ischemia caused overactive contractions while prolonged ischemia provoked degenerative responses and led to underactivity. CPI compromised structural integrity of the bladder, prostatic, and penile erectile tissues. Downstream molecular mechanisms appear to involve cellular stress and survival signaling, receptor modifications, upregulation of cytokines, and impairment of the nitric oxide pathway in cavernosal tissue. These observations may suggest pelvic ischemia as an important contributing factor in LUTS-associated ED. The aim of this narrative review is to discuss the current evidence on CPI as a possible etiologic mechanism underlying LUTS-associated ED.

Therapies Based on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: A Narrative Review

Lower urinary tract dysfunction often requires tissue repair or replacement to restore physiological functions. Current clinical treatments involving autologous tissues or synthetic materials inevitably bring in situ complications and immune rejection. Advances in therapies using stem cells offer new insights into treating lower urinary tract dysfunction. One of the most frequently used stem cell sources is adipose tissue because of its easy access, abundant source, low risk of severe complications, and lack of ethical issues. The regenerative capabilities of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in vivo are primarily orchestrated by their paracrine activities, strong regenerative potential, multi-differentiation potential, and cell–matrix interactions. Moreover, biomaterial scaffolds conjugated with ASCs result in an extremely effective tissue engineering modality for replacing or repairing diseased or damaged tissues. Thus, ASC-based therapy holds promise as having a tremendous impact on reconstructive urology of the lower urinary tract.

Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Enhanced Adipose-Derived Stem Cell-Mediated Angiogenesis in the Treatment of Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction through the Piezo-ERK-VEGF Axis

Objectives

Erectile dysfunction is a major comorbidity of diabetes. Stem cell transplantation is a promising method to treat diabetic erectile dysfunction. In this study, we evaluated whether low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) could enhance the efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and investigated the underlying molecular mechanism. Materials and methods. Sixty 8-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal control (NC) cohort or the streptozocin-induced diabetic ED cohort, which was further subdivided into DM, ADSC, LIPUS, and ADSC+LIPUS groups. Rats in the ADSC or ADSC+LIPUS group received ADSC intracavernosal injection. Rats in the LIPUS or ADSC+LIPUS group were treated with LIPUS. The intracavernous pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded at Day 28 after injection. The corpus cavernosum tissues were harvested and subjected to histologic analysis and ELISA. The effects of LIPUS on proliferation and cytokine secretion capacity of ADSCs were assessed in vitro. RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were applied to predict the mechanism involved, and western blotting and ELISA were used for verification.

Results

Rats in the ADSC+LIPUS group achieved significantly higher ICP and ICP/MAP ratios than those in the DM, ADSC, and LIPUS groups. In addition, the amount of cavernous endothelium and cGMP level also increased significantly in the ADSC+LIPUS group. In vitro experiments demonstrated that LIPUS promoted proliferation and cell cycle progression in ADSCs. The excretion of cytokines such as CXCL12, FGF2, and VEGF was also enhanced by LIPUS. Bioinformatic analysis based on RNA sequencing indicated that LIPUS stimulation might activate the MAPK pathway. We confirmed that LIPUS enhanced ADSC VEGF secretion through the Piezo-ERK pathway.

Conclusion

LIPUS enhanced the curative effects of ADSCs on diabetic erectile dysfunction through the activation of the Piezo-ERK-VEGF pathway. ADSC transplantation combined with LIPUS could be applied as a synergistic treatment for diabetic ED.

Knockdown of miR-423-5p simultaneously upgrades the eNOS and VEGFa pathways in ADSCs and improves erectile function in diabetic rats

This study aimed to explore the possibility of miR‐423‐5p modified adipose‐derived stem cell (ADSCs) therapy on streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction (DMED) rats. MiR‐423‐5p was knocked down in ADSCs. ADSCs, NC‐miR‐ADSCs and miR‐ADSCs were co‐cultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Normal and high glucose media were supplemented. The supernatant and HUVECs were collected for assessment of eNOS and VEGFa expression, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. HUVECs co‐cultured with ADSCs or miR‐ADSCs exhibited higher eNOS and VEGFa protein expression levels compared to DM groups. MiR‐ADSCs enhanced HUVEC proliferation compared to the ADSCs and NC‐miR‐ADSCs. Lower apoptotic rates were observed when HUVECs were co‐cultured with miR‐ADSCs, compared to ADSCs and NC‐miR‐ADSCs. Fifteen male Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats aged 12 weeks were induced to develop diabetes mellitus by intraperitoneal injection with STZ, and five healthy SD rats were used as normal controls. Eight weeks after developing diabetes, the rats received ADSCs and miR‐ADSCs via injection into the corpora cavernosa, whereas normal controls and DM controls were injected with saline. Erectile function and histological assessment of penile tissues were performed 8 weeks after injection. The ICP/MAP indicated that erectile function was impaired in the DM rats compared with the normal group. Injection of ADSCs and miR‐ADSCs improved erectile function significantly and was associated with the overexpression of eNOS and VEGFa. MiR‐423‐5p knockdown in ADSCs ameliorated high glucose‐mediated damage to HUVECs and improved erectile function in DM rats by inducing eNOS and VEGFa overexpression, indicating that miR‐423‐5p may be a potential target in the treatment of DMED.