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Potential differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cell transplanted in rat corpus cavernosum toward endothelial or smooth muscle cells

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 19, pages 378–385 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

One of the causes of erectile dysfunction (ED) is the damaged penile cavernous smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and sinus endothelial cells (ECs). To investigate the feasibility of applying immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to penile cavernous ECs or SMCs repair in the treatment of ED, the in vivo potential differentiation of the immortalized human MSCs toward penile cavernous endothelial or smooth muscle was investigated. One clone of immortalized human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell line B10 cells via retroviral vector encoding v-myc were transplanted into the cavernosum of the Sprague–Dawley rats and harvested 2 weeks later. The expression of CD31, von Willebrand factor (vWF), smooth muscle cell actin (SMA), calponin and desmin was determined immunohistochemically in rat penile cavernosum. Multipotency of B10 to adipogenic, osteogenic or chondrogenic differentiation was found. Expression of EC specific markers (CD31 or vWF protein) and expression of SMC specific markers (calponin, SMA or desmin protein) were demonstrated in grafted B10 cells. When human MSCs were transplanted into the penile cavernosum, they have the potential to differentiate toward ECs or SMCs. Human MSCs may be a good candidate in the treatment of penile cavernosum injury.

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Author notes

  1. Y S Song and H J Lee: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Soonchunhyang School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Y S Song

  2. Brain Disease Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea

    H J Lee & I H Park

  3. Institute of Regeneration Medicine, Gacheon University Ghill Hospital, Inchon, Korea

    W K Kim & S U Kim

  4. Department of Urology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    J H Ku

  5. Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    S U Kim

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  1. Y S Song
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Correspondence to J H Ku or S U Kim.

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Song, Y., Lee, H., Park, I. et al. Potential differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cell transplanted in rat corpus cavernosum toward endothelial or smooth muscle cells. Int J Impot Res 19, 378–385 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901539

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901539

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