Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Transfection Reduces Apoptosis in Human Penile Smooth Muscle Cells and Slows Down Cellular Aging

Abstract

Introduction Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common diseases in male urology that greatly affects the quality of life in senior people. Relaxation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle is the key to penile erection. Aim To explore effects of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene transfection on biological behaviors of human penile smooth muscle cells. Methods Human penile smooth muscle cells were grown in primary culture. A fluorescent eukaryotic expression vector, hTERT-internal ribosome entry site 2 (IRES2)-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), was constructed and transfected into human penile smooth muscle cells using Lipofectin reagent. Main Outcome Measure The telomerase activity, mitotic index, cell apoptosis, and cell growth curves of transfected smooth muscle cells were determined; the potential formation of malignant phenotypes in these transfected cells was investigated. Results Telomerase activity, mitotic index, and cell growth of hTERT-transfected cells were significantly higher than those of nontransfected cells and cells transfected with the empty EGFP vector, while apoptosis rates were the lowest in hTERT-transfected cells. No changes in cell morphology, chromosome number, and tumorigenicity were observed between hTERT-transfected cells and control cells. Conclusions In this study, for the first time, the hTERT gene was transfected into human penile smooth muscle cells, and the gene increased telomerase activity in cells, reduced cell apoptosis, and slowed down cell aging. We believe that this finding is of potential clinical value in the prevention and treatment of organic ED.

Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells in the corpus spongiosum surrounding the urethral plate in hypospadias

“…The culture medium was changed every 2 days. When they proliferated to cover 80%–90% of the culture dish, the cells were subcultured into new wells (Wu et al, 2012).…”

Simvastatin alleviated diabetes mellitus‐induced erectile dysfunction in rats by enhancing AMPK pathway‐induced autophagy

“…The albuginea vessels and urethra were stripped and rinsed 2‐3 times. The corpus cavernosum of the penis was cut into 0.5‐1 mm 3 pieces and cultured in DMEM containing 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) at 37°C and 5% CO 2 for 5‐7 days . CMSCs were purified by double adherence to plastic culture plates with different time conditions.…”

Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Myelodysplastic Syndrome

“…The TERTpro region resides within a large CpG island; hence, the dysregulation of hTERT expression in MDSs has been postulated to be driven by divergent epigenetic regulation, including hypermethylation and hypomethylation. 23,[144][145][146][147][148] Interestingly, despite increased expression and activity of hTERT, the telomere length in MDSs is shorter compared with controls, [149][150][151] suggesting noncanonical roles of telomerases, 152 leading to enhanced cell proliferation, 153 DNA damage repair, 154 RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase function, 155 and resistance to apoptosis, 153,156 as well as chemoresistance. 157 These various roles of telomerases/ hTERTs render it a promising target for the treatment of MDSs.…”