PDE-5 inhibitor, Vardenafil, increases circulating progenitor cells in humans

• Published in: International journal of impotence research Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 377 - 380
• Main Authors: FORESTA, C, LANA, A, CABRELLE, A, FERIGO, M, CARETTA, N, GAROLLA, A, PALU, G, FERLIN, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01-07-2005; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases - antagonists & inhibitors; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bone marrow; Bone marrow cells; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; Endothelium, Vascular - cytology; Flow Cytometry; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Health aspects; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - cytology; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - drug effects; Humans; Imidazoles - administration & dosage; Male; Male genital diseases; Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Phosphodiesterases; Physiological aspects; Piperazines - administration & dosage; Sulfones - administration & dosage; Triazines - administration & dosage; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; Italy; Human; Andrology; Endothelial cell; 3',5'-Cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterase; Enzyme; Stem cell; Oral administration; Enzyme inhibitor; Esterases; Vardenafil; Phosphoric diester hydrolases; Vasomotricity; endothelial progenitor cells; oral vasoactive agents; Hydrolases; Progenitor cell
• ISSN: 0955-9930; 1476-5489
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901325

Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) originate from haematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow and migrate into the peripheral circulation to promote endothelial repair and neovascularization. The number of circulating progenitor cells is reduced in patients with cardiovascular risk factor. The aim of our study was to determine the number of these cells in healthy patients and to evaluate the effect of Vardenfil, a phosphodiesterases-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, in the number of circulating EPCs. In our study, we found a significant increase in the number of these cells after the drug administration.