Human Muse cells rescue erectile function after nerve injury

What is it about?

In a rat model of postoperative erectile dysfunction caused by cavernous nerve injury, intravenously administered human Muse cells improved erectile function compared to non-Muse MSCs and vehicle control. Muse cells were observed to engraft in the major pelvic ganglion and expressed Schwann cell markers. The study suggests that Muse cells may be a useful approach to rescue erectile function after radical prostatectomy.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The research is important because it evaluates the effect of intravenous administration of human multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells on rat postoperative erectile dysfunction (ED) with cavernous nerve (CN) injury without an immunosuppressant. This study provides evidence that intravenously engrafted human Muse cells can recover erectile function after CN injury in a rat model, possibly by upregulating C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (Cxcl12) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (Gdnf). This research has the potential to contribute to the development of new therapies for the treatment of ED caused by CN injury after surgery. Key Takeaways: 1. Intravenously engrafted human Muse cells recovered rat erectile function after CN injury in a rat model. 2. Muse cells are non-tumorigenic, endogenous, reparative, pluripotent stem cells with high therapeutic potential. 3. The distribution of the GFP-positive Muse cells showed a homing effect of systemic delivery into the major pelvic ganglion (MPG) and CN lesions from the infusion into the external jugular vein. 4. MSCs do not remain in the tissue or the body for more than 2 weeks after administration, whereas Muse cells remained for at least 28 days after CN injury and significantly improved ED function compared to non-Muse MSCs. 5. Erectile function after CN injury could be rescued by intravenous Muse cell injection of 1.0 x 10^5 cells.