1659 INTRATUNICAL INJECTION OF ADIPOSE TISSUE-DERIVED STEM CELLS IN COMBINATION WITH HUMAN INTERFERON α-2B GENE THERAPY FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION IN A RAT MODEL OF PEYRONIE'S DISEASE

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Peyronie’s disease (PD) is a localized connective tissue disorder that affects the tunica albuginea of the penis. Characteristic inelastic scar tissue formation may dramatically diminish erectile function in PD. Intralesional treatments are growing in popularity as a minimally invasive approach in the initial treatment of PD. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of intratunical injection of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) vs. ADSCs in combination with human interferon -2b gene therapy (ADSCs-IFN) for the treatment of ED in a rat model of PD. METHODS: A total of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-350 g) were randomly divided into six groups: sham (saline-injected into the TA); PD (transforming growth factor (TGF)1 (50 g) injected into the TA); prevention groups (5x105 ADSCs or ADSCs-IFN injected into TA on the same day as TGF1 injection); and treatment groups (5x105 ADSCs or ADSCs-IFN injected into TA 30 days after TGF1 injection). Forty-five days following TGF1 injection, rats underwent erectile function assessment by measuring the total intracavernous-to-mean arterial pressure ratio (ICP/MAP) and total ICP during cavernous nerve stimulation. RESULTS: The sham and PD groups had an ICP/MAP ratio of 48 9 compared to 18 2% (p 0.004) at 2.5 V, 64 7 compared to 45 6% at 5.0 V (p 0.04), and 79 3 compared to 72 3% at 7.5 V (p 0.05). In the prevention groups significant improvement of erectile function were recorded at all stimulation parameters with ICP/MAP ratios of 72 5/72 4%, 78 3/77 1%, 85 2/82 2% at stimulation voltages of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 V for control ADSCs and ADSCs-IFN respectively (p 0.05). In the treatment groups ICP/MAP ratios of 44 8/58 7%, 67 5/70 4%, 81 4/77 4% at stimulation voltages of 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 V for ADSCs and ADSCs-IFN respectively (p 0.05). Although the changes in ICP and AUC were higher in ADSCs-IFN vs. ADSCs in the treatment group, this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Local injection of ADSCs in combination with human interferon -2b gene therapy prevents and treats ED caused by PD. Regenerative medicine with combination of gene therapy in the field of PD is expected to evolve rapidly but further validation and study is required to assess their potential role in treatment of PD.