AB045. Novel gene therapy for erectile dysfunction

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Objective Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a major health problem that affects millions of men all around the world. Since a significant number of ED patients have a poor response to the first line oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, underlying treatment like gene therapy is needed to evolve as a promising solution. Methods Basic and clinical researches regarding the application of gene therapy for ED over this few decades were reviewed. Then we summarize the state-of-the-art development of therapeutic targets, transfection methods, model systems and their efficacy in this field. Results All gene therapy studies are still in preclinical phase except one clinical trial using the target of Ca2+-activated, large-conductance K+ channel. In basic researches, animal models of ED induced by aging, diabetes, cavernous nerve injury, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia have been utilized to evaluate the capacities and mechanisms of therapeutic targets to improve ED. In addition to the classic transfection methods like naked plasmid DNA, liposome and virus, new gene therapy vectors such as stem cells come into stage and present specific advantages. Besides, novel systems are invented to optimize the process of transfection. These researches demonstrate that current selected targets are widely involved in multiple erection related signaling pathways and all of them present exciting results. Al

Evidence level

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

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