Loreto, Carla (55434615600)Carla (55434615600)LoretoBarbagli, Guido (55411841800)Guido (55411841800)BarbagliDjinovic, Rados (20734254600)Rados (20734254600)DjinovicVespasiani, Giuseppe (7005093191)Giuseppe (7005093191)VespasianiCarnazza, Maria Luisa (26433107900)Maria Luisa (26433107900)CarnazzaMiano, Roberto (57192324296)Roberto (57192324296)MianoMusumeci, Giuseppe (57200143500)Giuseppe (57200143500)MusumeciSansalone, Salvatore (11739201800)Salvatore (11739201800)Sansalone2025-06-122025-06-122011https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02003.xhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78650800116&doi=10.1111%2fj.1743-6109.2010.02003.x&partnerID=40&md5=14e1396e98c5fd2c11ba472234417550https://remedy.med.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/10167Introduction: Peyronie's disease (PD) is a connective tissue disorder of tunica albuginea (TA), a thick fibrous sheath surrounding the corpora cavernosa of the penis. Relatively, little is known about the disease itself. Aim: To investigate whether the apoptosis cascade in degenerated and macroscopically deformed TA from men with 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. Methods: TA plaques from 15 men with PD and from four unaffected men were processed for TRAIL and DR5 immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Main Outcome Measures: A greater understanding of the pathophysiology of PD through a molecular approach, to gain insights that may lead to novel forms of treatment. 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. © 2010 International Society for Sexual Medicine.ApoptosisDR5Peyronie's DiseasePeyronie's Plaque HealingTRAIL