Application of hNGFβ-Modified Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Treating Cavernous Nerve Injury-Induced Erectile Dysfunction in Rat Models

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of human never growth factor beta-subtype gene (hNGF beta) modified adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in treating erectile dysfunction (ED) in rat models. In total,120 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into the normal control (NC), injured cavernous nerve (CN), ADSCs, lentiviral vectors transfected with ADSCs (LV-ADSCs), LV over-expressing hNGF beta transfected with ADSCs (hNGF beta-ADSCs) groups. Multi-lineage differentiation potential of hNGF beta-modified ADSCs was assessed by morphologic observation and flow cytometry. At postoperative 1 week, 1 ml solution containing stem cell medium was injected in the NC group, and 2 x 10(6) ADSCs, LV-ADSCs and hNGF beta-ADSCs were intracavernously injected in other groups. At postoperative 2 and 8 weeks, intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) ratio was monitored. The corpus cavernosum tissues were prepared for H.E and Masson staining. The concentration of hNGF beta in the ADSCs, LV-ADSCs and hNGF beta-ADSGs groups was significantly higher compared with that in the NC and CN groups (all P < 0.05). The transfection rate was calculated as (77.9 +/- 0.5)%. HE staining revealed that cavernous body structure was distorted and significant atrophy was noted in the vascular smooth muscle of cavernous body in the CN group. These changes were significantly improved in the LV-ADSCs, ADSCs and hNGF beta-ADSCs groups. At postoperative 2 and 8 weeks, the content of NGF beta did not significantly differ between the NC and hNGF beta-ADSCs groups. Compared with the CN group, the ICP/MAP values in the hNGF beta-ADSCs, LV-ADSCs and ADSCs groups were significantly increased. hNGF-modified ADSCs can elevate the concentration of hNGF beta and mitigate the ED symptoms, which serve as optimal genetic engineering cells for ED therapy.