BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR EXPRESSION IN PEYRONIE'S DISEASE

Abstract

Peyronie's disease is a fibromatosis resulting in scarring of the tunica albuginea. While the inciting event is believed to be trauma to the erect penis, little is understood about the cascade of cellular events that leads to the formation of the plaque. Dysregulated wound healing serves as a paradigm for the study of this condition. Previous work has demonstrated a role for fibrogenic cytokines in wound healing, fibromatoses, including Peyronie's disease. We analyze the expression of the fibrogenic cytokine, basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), by fibroblasts derived from Peyronie's disease tissue. Patients with Peyronie's disease undergoing either penile prosthesis insertion or Nesbit penile plication surgery had biopsy specimens removed from the plaque and from normal tunical tissue remote from the plaque. Cell cultures were derived from these specimens. Cultured cells were characterized using immunofluorescence staining and immunosorbent digital imaging. The cell culture supernatants were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the production of basic FGF. Foreskin tissue from men without Peyronie's disease was used as control cells. Five independent cell lines were established from plaque tissue and 4 independent cell lines were established from normal tunica from the same subjects. Intracellular antigen expression was consistent with the cells being myofibroblasts. Production of basic FGF by the plaque derived myofibroblasts was significantly greater compared to production by normal tunical myofibroblasts and foreskin fibroblasts. These data demonstrate the successful establishment of cell lines from plaque tissue and normal tunica from men with Peyronie's disease. The findings indicate a potential role for basic FGF over expression in the tunical fibrosis that occurs in this condition. This information may allow a better understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in the development of this disease. Furthermore, it may permit the elaboration of therapeutic strategies to prevent or reduce tunical scarring and plaque formation.