Apoptosis activation in the induratio penis plastica

This paper has been carried out in order to investigate whether the apoptosis cascade in degenerated and macroscopically deformed tunica albuginea (TA) from men with Peyronie’s disease (PD) is activated through the extrinsic pathway by assessing the immunoexpression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its death receptor, DR5. Materials and methods. TA plaques from 15 men with PD and from 4 unaffected men were processed for TRAIL and DR5 immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Results. Activation of the apoptosis mechanisms through the extrinsic pathway was demonstrated by TRAIL and DR5 overexpression in fibroblasts and myofibroblasts from affected TA. Conclusion. The finding that apoptosis activation in TA plaques occurs, at least in part, via the extrinsic pathway may help devise novel therapeutic options for these patients.