We have located links that may give you full text access.
BMP4 and GREM1 are targets of SHH signaling and downstream regulators of collagen in the penis.
Journal of Sexual Medicine 2024 March 7
BACKGROUND: Cavernous nerve (CN) injury, caused by prostatectomy and diabetes, initiates a remodeling process (smooth muscle apoptosis and increased collagen) in the corpora cavernosa of the penis of patients and animal models that is an underlying cause of erectile dysfunction (ED), and the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway plays an essential role in the response of the penis to denervation, as collagen increases with SHH inhibition and decreases with SHH treatment.
AIM: We examined if part of the mechanism of how SHH prevents penile remodeling and increased collagen with CN injury involves bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and gremlin1 (GREM1) and examined the relationship between SHH, BMP4, GREM1, and collagen in penis of ED patients and rat models of CN injury, SHH inhibition, and SHH, BMP4, and GREM1 treatment.
METHODS: Corpora cavernosa of Peyronie's disease (control), prostatectomy, and diabetic ED patients were obtained (N = 30). Adult Sprague Dawley rats (n = 90) underwent (1) CN crush (1-7 days) or sham surgery; (2) CN injury and BMP4, GREM1, or mouse serum albumin (control) treatment via Affi-Gel beads or peptide amphiphile (PA) for 14 days; (3) 5E1 SHH inhibitor, IgG, or phosphate-buffered saline (control) treatment for 2 to 4 days; or (4) CN crush with mouse serum albumin or SHH for 9 days.
OUTCOMES: Immunohistochemical and Western analysis for BMP4 and GREM1, and collagen analysis by hydroxyproline and trichrome stain were performed.
RESULTS: BMP4 and GREM1 proteins were identified in corpora cavernosa smooth muscle of prostatectomy, diabetic, and Peyronie's patients, and in rat smooth muscle, sympathetic nerve fibers, perineurium, blood vessels, and urethra. Collagen decreased 25.4% in rats with CN injury and BMP4 treatment (P = .02) and increased 61.3% with CN injury and GREM1 treatment (P = .005). Trichrome stain showed increased collagen in rats treated with GREM1. Western analysis identified increased BMP4 and GREM1 in corpora cavernosa of prostatectomy and diabetic patients, and after CN injury (1-2 days) in our rat model. Localization of BMP4 and GREM1 changed with SHH inhibition. SHH treatment increased the monomer form of BMP4 and GREM1, altering their range of signaling.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A better understanding of penile remodeling and how fibrosis occurs with loss of innervation is essential for development of novel ED therapies.
STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The relationship between SHH, BMP4, GREM1, and collagen is complex in the penis.
CONCLUSION: BMP4 and GREM1 are downstream targets of SHH that impact collagen and may be useful in collaboration with SHH to prevent penile remodeling and ED.
AIM: We examined if part of the mechanism of how SHH prevents penile remodeling and increased collagen with CN injury involves bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and gremlin1 (GREM1) and examined the relationship between SHH, BMP4, GREM1, and collagen in penis of ED patients and rat models of CN injury, SHH inhibition, and SHH, BMP4, and GREM1 treatment.
METHODS: Corpora cavernosa of Peyronie's disease (control), prostatectomy, and diabetic ED patients were obtained (N = 30). Adult Sprague Dawley rats (n = 90) underwent (1) CN crush (1-7 days) or sham surgery; (2) CN injury and BMP4, GREM1, or mouse serum albumin (control) treatment via Affi-Gel beads or peptide amphiphile (PA) for 14 days; (3) 5E1 SHH inhibitor, IgG, or phosphate-buffered saline (control) treatment for 2 to 4 days; or (4) CN crush with mouse serum albumin or SHH for 9 days.
OUTCOMES: Immunohistochemical and Western analysis for BMP4 and GREM1, and collagen analysis by hydroxyproline and trichrome stain were performed.
RESULTS: BMP4 and GREM1 proteins were identified in corpora cavernosa smooth muscle of prostatectomy, diabetic, and Peyronie's patients, and in rat smooth muscle, sympathetic nerve fibers, perineurium, blood vessels, and urethra. Collagen decreased 25.4% in rats with CN injury and BMP4 treatment (P = .02) and increased 61.3% with CN injury and GREM1 treatment (P = .005). Trichrome stain showed increased collagen in rats treated with GREM1. Western analysis identified increased BMP4 and GREM1 in corpora cavernosa of prostatectomy and diabetic patients, and after CN injury (1-2 days) in our rat model. Localization of BMP4 and GREM1 changed with SHH inhibition. SHH treatment increased the monomer form of BMP4 and GREM1, altering their range of signaling.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A better understanding of penile remodeling and how fibrosis occurs with loss of innervation is essential for development of novel ED therapies.
STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The relationship between SHH, BMP4, GREM1, and collagen is complex in the penis.
CONCLUSION: BMP4 and GREM1 are downstream targets of SHH that impact collagen and may be useful in collaboration with SHH to prevent penile remodeling and ED.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System: From History to Practice of a Secular Topic.International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024 April 5
Albumin: a comprehensive review and practical guideline for clinical use.European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024 April 13
Revascularization Strategy in Myocardial Infarction with Multivessel Disease.Journal of Clinical Medicine 2024 March 27
Clinical practice guidelines on the management of status epilepticus in adults: A systematic review.Epilepsia 2024 April 13
Interstitial Lung Disease: A Review.JAMA 2024 April 23
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app