Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in subjects with erectile dysfunction

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often the first clinical sign of endothelial dysfunction and may precede overt cardiovascular diseases. Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells migrate into the peripheral circulation to promote endothelial repair. The number of circulating progenitor cells is reduced in patients with cardiovascular risk factor. The objective of our study was to determine the number of these cells in patients with ED both with and without cardiovascular risk factors. These subjects have lower number of circulating progenitor cells, confirming the existence of an endothelial dysfunction and supplying the evidence that ED may be the first symptom of an endothelial damage.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells and endothelial function after chronic Tadalafil treatment in subjects with erectile dysfunction

“…12,20 In this study, we observed a significant increase of endothelial function (FMD related) and circulating PCs after 3 months treatment with another PDE5 inhibitor, Tadalafil. This improvement in PCs number may result in an effective vasculoprotection preventing the initiation and progression of endothelial dysfunction.…”

Stem cells: novel players in the treatment of erectile dysfunction

“…[78][79][80] One of the most exciting discoveries in vascular biology came in 1997 with the apparent detection of bone marrowderived EPCs, 81 which have the capacity to migrate into the peripheral circulation and to differentiate into mature ECs, thus providing a circulating pool of the cells that may contribute to ongoing endothelial repair. 82 This process, called vasculogenesis, 83 is impaired in ED, as documented by low levels of circulating EPCs. 82 Meanwhile, at least one research group believes that EPCs are native inhabitants of certain blood vessel walls, and it would be instructive to determine whether EPCs are embedded within the penile vasculature and can be stimulated to repair dysfunctional penile ECs.…”

“…82 This process, called vasculogenesis, 83 is impaired in ED, as documented by low levels of circulating EPCs. 82 Meanwhile, at least one research group believes that EPCs are native inhabitants of certain blood vessel walls, and it would be instructive to determine whether EPCs are embedded within the penile vasculature and can be stimulated to repair dysfunctional penile ECs. 84 Recently, several groups demonstrated that in ED patients, the reduced level of EPCs could be restored by administration of PDE5i, 85,86 such as vardenafil and tadalafil, resulting in an effective vasculoprotection and prevention of the initiation and progression of endothelial dysfunction.…”

“…87 There are several types of circulating EPCs related to ED. In particular, circulating levels of CD34 1 CD133 1 cells were recently shown to be decreased in patients with ED with or without cardiovascular risk factors, 82 while CD34 1 KDR 1 cells showed no relationship with ED. 88 Meanwhile, increased levels of osteocalcin 1 EPCs could be a predictive marker of subsequent coronary artery disease as well as ED.…”

Assessment of endothelial function in the patient with erectile dysfunction: an opportunity for the urologist

“…[60][61][62] This process, called vasculogenesis, 61 is impaired as documented by low levels of cEPCs in ED 63 and CAD. 64 In fact, Hill et al 65 found that decreased cEPC levels correlated with endothelial dysfunction even better than the subjects' Framingham risk scores.…”