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Potential of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Treatment of
Erectile Dysfunction

Guiting Lin, MD, PhD,* Lia Banie, BS,* Hongxiu Ning, PhD,* Anthony J. Bella, MD, †
Ching-Shwun Lin, PhD,* and Tom F. Lue, MD*
*School of Medicine, Department of Urology, University of California-Knuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, San
†
Francisco, CA, USA; Ottawa Health Research Institute University of Ottawa—Department of Surgery, Division of
Urology, Ottawa, Canada
DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.01190.x

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are a somatic stem cell population contained in fat tissue that
possess the ability for self-renewal, differentiation into one or more phenotypes, and functional regeneration of
damaged tissue, which may beneﬁt the recovery of erectile function by using a stem cell-based therapy.
Aim. To review available evidence concerning ADSCs availability, differentiation into functional cells, and the
potential of these cells for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).
Methods. We examined the current data (from 1964 to 2008) associated with the deﬁnition, characterization,
differentiation, and application of ADSCs, as well as other kinds of stem cells for the cell-based therapies of ED.
Main Outcome Measures. There is strong evidence supporting the concept that ADSCs may be a potential stem cell
therapy source in treating ED.
Results. The ADSCs are paravascularly localized in the adipose tissue. Under speciﬁc induction medium conditions,
these cells differentiated into neuron-like cells, smooth muscle cells, and endothelium in vitro. The insulin-like
growth factor/insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF/IGFR) pathway participates in neuronal differentiation while
the ﬁbroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) pathway is involved in endothelium differentiation. In a preliminary in vivo
experiment, the ADSCs functionally recovered the damaged erectile function. However, the underlying mechanism
needs to be further examined.
Conclusion. The ADSCs are a potential source for stem cell-based therapies, which imply the possibility of an effective
clinical therapy for ED in the near future. Lin G, Banie L, Ning HX, Bella AJ, Lin C-S, and Lue TF. Potential of
adipose-derived stem cells for treatment of erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med 2009;6(suppl 3):320–327.
Key Words. Erectile Dysfunction; Stem Cells; Adipose-Derived Stem Cell; Differentiation; FGF2

Introduction treatment of a multitude of human diseases is the
major argument in favor of human stem cell
tem cells are endowed with the capacity to research [2,3].
S self-renew and differentiate into various cell Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) [4] have
types, depending on the stimuli or signals that they previously been shown to possess stem cell proper-
receive. While embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have ties such as transdifferentiation and self-renewal.
greater differentiation potential than adult stem They are a somatic stem cell population contained
cells (ASCs), the former will most likely take years in fat tissue and possess the properties of self-
to reach clinical application due to ethical con- renewal, differentiation into one or more pheno-
cerns and governmental restrictions associated types, and functional reproduction of damaged
with its use. Since ﬁrst reported in 1998 [1], tissue [5,6]. ADSCs share the same properties of all
human stem cell research has attracted scientists stem cells, such as the ability to divide and renew
worldwide. Actually, the wide range of uses for themselves for long periods, and differentiate into

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