Pathological Significance of Macrophages in Erectile Dysfunction Including Peyronie’s Disease

Abstract

Erectile function is regulated by complex mechanisms centered on vascular- and nerve-related systems. Hence, dysregulation of these systems leads to erectile dysfunction (ED), which causes mental distress and decreases the quality of life of patients and their partners. At the molecular level, many factors, such as fibrosis, lipid metabolism abnormalities, the immune system, and stem cells, play crucial roles in the etiology and development of ED. Although phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are currently the standard treatment agents for patients with ED, they are effective only in a subgroup of patients. Therefore, further insight into the pathological mechanism underlying ED is needed to discuss ED treatment strategies. In this review, we focused on the biological and pathological significance of macrophages in ED because the interaction of macrophages with ED-related mechanisms have not been well explored, despite their important roles in vasculogenic and neurogenic diseases. Furthermore, we examined the pathological significance of macrophages in Peyronie’s disease (PD), a cause of ED characterized by penile deformation (visible curvature) during erection and pain. Although microinjury and the subsequent abnormal healing process of the tunica albuginea are known to be important processes in this disease, the detailed etiology and pathophysiology of PD are not fully understood. This is the first review on the pathological role of macrophages in PD.

Disfunción eréctil e infecciones virales: una revisión narrativa

“…Una vez se consigue aumentar el riego sanguíneo hacia el cuerpo cavernoso, los espacios sinusoidales se expanden, dando como resultado la erección. (6) La erección o flacidez del pene está determinada por mecanismos que favorecen ya sea a la contracción o relajación de la musculatura lisa, la cual es regulada por una combinación de control adrenérgico (noradrenalina), control miogénico intrínseco y factores de contracción derivados del endotelio como lo son las prostaglandinas y endotelinas. (6) Tras la excitación sexual, se estimula la liberación de acetilcolina de las fibras nerviosas colinérgicas parasimpáticas, así como óxido nítrico (NO) de las fibras nerviosas no colinérgicas, este último, es un potente vasodilatador local en las células endoteliales del pene.…”

“…(5) moleculares implicados en el desarrollo de esta enfermedad, incluidos el óxido nítrico, guanosina monofosfato cíclica (cGMP)/proteína quinasa G (PKG), especies reactivas de oxígeno, el sistema renina angiotensina y ciertas citoquinas proinflamatorias como el TNF-a. (6) Además, se han descrito factores que juegan un papel determinante en el desarrollo de disfunción eréctil, sin embargo, los más comunes son los de tipo orgánico, psicológico, estructurales e infecciosos. Dentro de los factores infecciosos relacionados con el desarrollo e instauración de disfunción eréctil se encuentran las secuelas vasculares inducidas por infecciones virales producidas por el virus del dengue, virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), SARS-CoV-2, virus linfotrópico humano de células tipo 1 (HTVL1), hepatitis y herpes, los cuales afectan significativamente a la personas en la actualidad.…”

Advances in physical diagnosis and treatment of male erectile dysfunction

“…ED can be caused by a variety of vascular factors, such as atherosclerosis, arterial injury, and stenosis, penile venous fistula ( Hoppe and Diehm, 2020 ; Sayadi et al, 2021 ; Wang et al, 2021 ). The role of monocyte/macrophage accumulation in vascular disease is not negligible ( Davis and Gallagher, 2019 ; Miyata et al, 2021 ). Macrophages can stimulate plaque formation in blood vessels and play an important role in vascular injury ( Marchio et al, 2019 ).…”

Pyroptosis and inflammation‑mediated endothelial dysfunction may act as key factors in the development of erectile dysfunction (Review)

“…Notably, ED was found to be associated with injury, endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle, infection, and oxidative stress ( Fig. 1 ) ( 12 – 20 ). Numerous previous studies have demonstrated the effects of pyroptosis in cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, diabetic cardiomyopathy and cardiac hypertrophy, and in cancer ( 21 – 27 ).…”