{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Intravenously engrafted human multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells rescue erectile function after rat cavernous nerve injury.
{Author}: Koyama J;Yamashita S;Kato Y;Nezu K;Goto T;Fujii S;Suzuki Y;Nakayashiki A;Kawasaki Y;Kawamorita N;Okita H;Ito T;Kushida Y;Goto M;Dezawa M;Tominaga T;Niizuma K;Ito A;
{Journal}: BJU Int
{Volume}: 133
{Issue}: 3
{Year}: 2024 Mar 20
{Factor}: 5.969
{DOI}: 10.1111/bju.16232
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To evaluate 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.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised into three groups after CN crush injury. Either human-Muse cells, non-Muse mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (both 1.0 × 105 cells), or vehicle was infused intravenously at 3 h after CN injury without immunosuppressant. Erectile function was assessed by measuring intracavernous pressure (ICP) and arterial pressure (AP) during pelvic nerve electrostimulation 28 days after surgery. At 48 h and 28 days after intravenous infusion of Muse cells, the homing of Muse cells and non-Muse MSCs was evaluated in the major pelvic ganglion (MPG) after CN injury. In addition, expressions of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (Cxcl12) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (Gdnf) in the MPG were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analyses and comparisons among groups were performed using one-way analysis of variance followed by the Tukey test for parametric data and Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Dunn-Bonferroni test for non-parametric data.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The mean (SEM) ICP/AP values at 28 days were 0.51 (0.02) in the Muse cell group, 0.37 (0.03) in the non-Muse MSC group, and 0.36 (0.04) in the vehicle group, showing a significant positive response in the Muse cell group compared with the non-Muse and vehicle groups (P = 0.013 and P = 0.010, respectively). In the MPG, Muse cells were observed to be engrafted at 48 h and expressed Schwann cell markers S100 (~46%) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (~24%) at 28 days, while non-Muse MSCs were basically not engrafted at 48 h. Higher gene expression of Cxcl12 (P = 0.048) and Gdnf (P = 0.040) was found in the MPG of the Muse group than in the vehicle group 48 h after infusion.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Intravenously engrafted human Muse cells recovered rat erectile function after CN injury in a rat model possibly by upregulating Cxcl12 and Gdnf.