Prospects of using mesenchymal stromal cells for the treatment of the male urogenital system

Abstract

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a promising resource for cell therapy due to multiple differentiation potentials and the ability to exert a complex pro-regenerative effect on injured tissues. The results of numerous studies indicate the possibility of their use in the treatment of the most common diseases of the male urogenital system. In particular, experimental models of toxic, ischemic or traumatic testicular injury, cryptorchidism and fasting-induced testicular insufficiency have shown the beneficial effect of MSC transplantation or injection of their secretory products on the restoration of spermatogenesis and testosterone production. Due to their immunomodulatory properties, MSCs may be useful for the treatment of acute and chronic prostatitis. It is possible that their inherent tropism to tumors can also be used in the treatment of prostate cancer. However, due to the ambiguity of the MSC effect on the tumor process, their use in this field of medicine should be considered with caution. There are also encouraging results of MSC transplantation in erectile dysfunction caused by age-related changes, diabetes mellitus, impaired penile blood supply or innervation, irradiation or Peyronie disease. Experimental data on the therapeutic effects of MSCs obtained in numerous animal studies, and in some cases in clinical trials, can become the basis for the development of new approaches to the treatment of diseases of the main organs of the male urogenital system.