Investigative urology

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the gene expression alterations in human Peyronie's disease (PD) and Dupuytren's disease (DD) to determine whether they share a common pathophysiology. Multiple mRNA expression profiles of human PD have previously shown that genes that regulate fibroblast replication, myofibroblast differentiation, collagen metabolism, tissue repair, and ossification are involved. DD, a palmar fascia fibrosis, may be associated with PD. Methods: Total RNA samples from PD plaques, normal tunica albuginea, Dupuytren's nodules, and normal palmar fascia (nine samples per group) were subjected to differential gene expression profile analysis (Clontech Atlas DNA microarray) comparing PD with tunica albuginea and DD with normal palmar fascia. Changes of more than 2.0 in PD and DD compared with tunica albuginea and normal palmar fascia, respectively, were recorded. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions were performed for some genes whose expression was altered in PD. Results: Some of the gene families upregulated in both PD and DD were (a) collagen degradation: matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), with MMP2 and MMP9, and thymosins (MMP activators), with TMβ10 and TMβ4; (b) ossification: osteoblast-specific factors (OSFs) OSF-1 and OSF-2 (DD only); and (c) myofibroblast differentiation: RhoGDP dissociation inhibitor 1. The genes upregulated in PD only were decorin (an inhibitor of transforming growth factor-beta1 and a part of fibroblast replication/collagen synthesis) and early growth response protein. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction confirmed these changes. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that the pattern of alterations in the expression of certain gene families in PD and DD is similar, suggesting that they share a common pathophysiology and may be amenable to the same therapeutic regimens.

RNA-sequencing profiling analysis of pericyte-derived extracellular vesicle–mimetic nanovesicles-regulated genes in primary cultured fibroblasts from normal and Peyronie’s disease penile tunica albuginea

“…The accurate physiological and pathological mechanisms of PD remain poorly understood. To date, most gene expression studies have focused on human PD plaque at a tissue level in vivo [ 33 , 34 ] but not at a cellular level in vitro . Therefore, to investigate the exact mechanisms and potential target genes for PD, we cultured human fibroblasts from human PD plaque and performed RNA-sequencing assays.…”