Progress and prospect of stem cell therapy for diabetic erectile dysfunction

Abstract

Diabetic erectile dysfunction (DED) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus, significantly impairing the quality of life of patients. The conventional clinical treatment still has limitations. Stem cells (SCs), as a type of cells with multidirectional or directional differentiation capability and sustainable self-renewal potential, are widely used in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. With the continuous update of regenerative medicine theory and the success of animal experiments, SCs as a treatment for male erectile dysfunction, especially DED, have attracted widespread attention because of curable possibility. This review focus on the current progress in the clinical application of SC treatment for DED. Moreover, we summarize the development prospects of SCs in the field of DMED therapy.

Keywords: Stem cell; Diabetic erectile dysfunction; Extracellular vesicles; Gene editing

Core Tip: Diabetic erectile dysfunction (DED) is a common complication of diabetes. Conventional clinical treatments like phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, intracavernosal vasoactive drug injection, negative pressure suction device, and low-intensity shock wave therapy are the conventional methods of clinical treatment. However, none of the above therapies has the potential of curing. Stem cell therapy is currently the only possible cure for DED and can avoid the potential complications of conventional therapies. Here we discuss the current role and progress of stem cells in the treatment of DED.