Increased Levels of Osteocalcin-Positive Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients Affected by Erectile Dysfunction and Cavernous Atherosclerosis

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) was shown to be the expression of a systemic vascular disease that can precede coronary artery disease of some years. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a population of circulating cells with endothelial-regenerative potential that may be reduced in ED and coronary patients. Recently, increased levels of osteocalcin (OCN)-positive EPC have been reported in coronary patients. AIM: Investigate the correlation between OCN-positive EPC and cavernous atherosclerotic lesion in ED patients. METHODS: A total of 35 subjects (20 ED patients and 15 controls) were evaluated in our andrological center and enrolled in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All subjects underwent routine clinical examination. Patients were also evaluated with high resolution echo color doppler of penile districts (intima media thickness [IMT] before and after intracavernous alprostadil injection) and circulating levels of progenitor cells (PC), EPC, and OCN-positive fraction of EPC. RESULTS: A progressive reduction of circulating EPC with the severity of cavernous artery atherosclerosis was found. Conversely circulating OCN-positive EPC levels undergo to a significant increase with cavernous atherogenesis progression. CONCLUSIONS: OCN-positive EPC levels in association with penile-color Doppler ultrasound evaluation of cavernous IMT could be predictive markers of subsequent coronary artery disease in ED patients.