Current status and advances in adipose-derived stem cells therapy for diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction (DMED) is a severe complication highly prevalent among male diabetic patients, with a global prevalence exceeding 50%, while current therapies exhibit limited efficacy. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have emerged as a research focus for DMED treatment due to their accessibility, multipotent differentiation potential and paracrine properties. This article systematically reviews the mechanisms of ADSCs in treating DMED: ADSCs improve cavernous vascularization and endothelial function, inhibit fibrosis and increase smooth muscle content, ameliorate cavernous neuropathy, alleviate programmed cell death in cavernous tissues and reverse phenotypic transformation of cavernous smooth muscle. Additionally, clinical studies on ADSCs therapy for DMED are summarized, along with methods to enhance the efficacy of ADSCs treatment for ED. However, further researches on the underlying mechanisms and clinical trials are needed to advance ADSC from basic research to precision medicine.

Keywords: adipose-derived stem cells; diabetic mellitus erectile dysfunction; nerve repair; phenotypic transformation; vascular regeneration.

Figure 1

Summary of the mechanisms of ADSCs in treating DMED. (A) Improvement of vascular formation and endothelial function in the cavernous body. (B) Inhibition of fibrosis of the corpus cavernosum and increase smooth muscle content. (C) Improvement of neuropathy of the corpus cavernosum. (D) Alleviation of programmed cell death in spongy tissue cells.