Neuroendocrine cells are abundant in all the body tissues and organs as well as the nervous system, either the central or the peripheral nervous system. In the normal prostate tissue, there are a few neuroendocrine cells, too, in addition to basal and epithelial cells. Prostatic neuroendocrine cells play the function of regulating the development, secretion and differentiation of the prostate. Recent studies show that prostatic neuroendocrine cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis through their activity and secreted products. This article presents an overview on the origin, distribution, morphology, structure, secretion and functions of prostatic neuroendocrine cells and their association with chronic prostatitis.
Chronic Disease ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Male ; Neuroendocrine Cells ; cytology ; Prostate ; cytology ; Prostatitis ; pathology

Stem cells are characterized by self-renewing, multipotent differentiation, and high proliferation and receiving more and more attention for their roles in the development and management of various diseases. There are epithelial stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells in the prostate. The markers of the epithelial stem cells include cytokeratin, stem cell antigen-1, and integrins alpha2beta1, CD49f, CD133, CD117, and CD44. The markers of the mesenchymal stem cells include CD30, CD44, CD133, neuron-specific enolase, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1. Prostate stem cells are involved in the development and treatment of prostatic diseases. This review focuses on the latest progress in the studies of prostate stem cells.
Antigens, CD ; Biomarkers ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Integrin alpha2beta1 ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; chemistry ; cytology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

OBJECTIVETo characterize age-related cellular phenotype alterations and growth rates of human prostatic stromal cell cultures from the normal prostatic peripheral zone of young donors (PZ-young) and old donors (PZ-old).

METHODSWe isolated stromal cells from 10 donors of different ages, assessed the cellular phenotypes by immunocytostaining for prolyl-4-hydroxylase, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and desmin, and analysed the ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The proliferation and apoptosis of the cells were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTSAll the stromal cells were positive for prolyl-4-hydroxylase regardless of the donors' age, while alpha-SMA and desmin positive cells increased with their age. The positive expressions of alpha-SMA and desmin were (2.56 +/- 1.81)% and (0.89 +/- 0.93)% in PZ-young, and (38.89 +/- 11.22)% and (14.89 +/- 5.97)% in PZ-old (P < 0.01). The alpha-SMA- and/or desmin-positive stromal cells were morphologically large, flat and polygonal. Ultrastructural analysis showed that the cell cultures from PZ-old were richer in rough endoplasmic reticulum and golgi complexes. The stromal cells of PZ-old had a lower growth rate than that of PZ-young (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in the apoptosis rate between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONCellular phenotypes of human prostate stromal cell cultures change with the increase of age from predominantly typical fibroblasts to a mixture of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, which might responsible for the high incidence of prostate cancer in elderly men.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Prostate ; cytology ; pathology ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; pathology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) on the proliferation of prostatic smooth muscle cells (PSMCs) in vitro.

METHODSThe ERalpha shRNA expression frame was subcloned to the pGSadeno adenovirus vector by homologous recombination technology to construct the pGSaaeno-ERalpha vector. After the mouse PSMCs were transfected in vitro by pGSaaeno-ERalpha, the mRNA and protein expression levels of ERalpha were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The expression of IGF1 in the ERa-reduced cells was determined by Western blot 6 hours after treatment with 17beta-estradiol (E2) at 10(-8) mol/L. The post-transfection activity of estrogen or exogenous IGF1 in the proliferation of PSMCs was evaluated by MTT chlormetric analysis.

RESULTSAfter treatment with E2, the proliferation of PSMCs and the expression of the IGF1 gene were significantly increased in the normal control group (P <0.05), but not obviously changed in the ERalpha-siRNA group (P> 0.05). And exogenous IGF1 failed to induce the proliferation of the ERalpha-reduced PSMCs.

CONCLUSIONE2 induces the expression of IGF1 via ERalpha, and IGFl, with the interaction of ERalpha, promotes the proliferation of PSMCs.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; metabolism ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Prostate ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

BACKGROUNDProstate stromal cells are known to regulate epithelial growth as well as support and maintain epithelial function. However, how stromal cells regulate epithelial cells and what differences among various histological/pathological prostate stromal cells in prostate cancer progression still remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the different phenotypes of human various histological/pathological prostate stromal cells, and their role in tumor promotion.

METHODSThe different phenotypes of the human normal prostatic peripheral zonal primary stromal cells (NPPF), transitional zonal primary stromal cells (NPTF), and prostate cancer associated primary stromal cells (CAF) were examined with growth curves and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) assay. The different effects on prostate cancer cell line C4-2B by NPPF, NPTF, and CAF were examined with MTT assay and Annexin V-FITC assay. The gene expression of different histological/pathological prostate stromal cells was profiled by microarray and hierarchical cluster analysis.

RESULTSThe growth rate of NPPF, NPTF and CAF gradually increased, followed by decreasing apoptosis. In vitro stromal-C4-2B cell line co-culture models, the proliferation and apoptosis of C4-2B cell line were differently affected by human various histological/pathological prostate stromal cells. CAF showed the most powerful effect to C4-2B cell line, as opposed to a weakest effect of NPTF. Microarray and hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes of CAF and NPPF were less than NPPF and NPTF, or CAF and NPTF. This was consistent with clinical observations that prostate cancer mostly derived from the peripheral zone and does not usually occur in the transitional zone.

CONCLUSIONNPPF, NPTF and CAF possess extremely different biological characteristics and gene expression, which may play an important role in genesis and development of prostate cancer.

Adult ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cluster Analysis ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu on the proliferation or apoptosis on prostatic smooth muscle cells in vitro.

METHODSAfter extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu treated the cultured prostatic smooth muscle cells, the anti proliferative and apoptotic indices were assessed by MTT assy and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) respectively.

RESULTSThere was a significant dose-effect relationship between the concentration of extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu and the antiproliferative index on prostatic smooth muscle cells in vitro (P < 0.01), but there was no markedly difference in the apoptosis index between the group of extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu and control group ( P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONExtracted liquid from Qianlietongyu may show significant antiproliferative effect on prostatic smooth muscle cells in vitro, without inducing apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Prostate ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of prostate stromal cells from different zones of normal prostate tissue on the growth of prostate cancer cells and their action mechanisms.

METHODSWe extracted stromal cells in the fresh normal prostatic tissue derived from the peripheral zone (PZ) or transitional zone (TZ), amplified them in vitro, and used the supernatants of the cells as conditioned media to culture hormone-resistant prostate cancer DU145 cells. We measured the growth curve of the tumor cells using the CCK8 method, determined the number and viability of the cells by trypan blue staining, evaluated their invasiveness by scratch test, and detected the effects of the stromal cells on the key enzymes in the glycolysis of the tumor cells by Western blot.

RESULTSThe conditioned medium with the PZ-derived stromal cells promoted, while that with the TZ-derived stromal cells inhibited the growth of the tumor cells. The former significantly increased, while the latter markedly decreased the expressions of the key enzymes hexokinase 2 (HK-2), pyruvate kinase 2 (PKM-2), lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA), and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) in the glycolysis of the tumor cells.

CONCLUSIONProstate stromal cells from different zones exert different influences on the growth of tumor cells, which may be associated with their different effects on the glycolysis of tumor cells.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Stromal Cells ; physiology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo establish a technological system of proteomics research for displaying the full-scale protein expression spectrum of the prostate cells.

METHODSWe obtained the epithelial cells from normal prostate tissues by laser capture microdissection (LCM) technology, extracted the proteins from them and established two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) profiles of the proteins by immobilized pH gradient (IPG) two-dimensional electrophoresis. Then protein spot detection and matching were performed with the scanner and the ImageMaster 2D Elite analysis software. With the help of the Ettanspotter and digester, protein spots that matched well across the gels were extracted, digested and further identified by assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).

RESULTSThe 2-DE profiles of prostate cells were established, and one protein spot from normal prostate cells identified successfully.

CONCLUSIONThe 2-DE profiles of normal prostate cells have good reproducibility. We have tentatively established the proteomics research technology of normal prostate cells and demonstrated the feasibility of proteomics research with the model of human normal prostate cells.

Adult ; Aged ; Cells, Cultured ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; methods ; Humans ; Lasers ; Male ; Microdissection ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; cytology ; metabolism ; Proteome ; analysis ; Proteomics ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on estrogen receptor (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) in mouse prostate cells and explore the putative role of EGF in prostatic hyperplasia.

METHODSSixty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into two EGF groups and one control group (n=20) and subjected to subcutaneous injection of 1 and 2 microg/day EGF and distilled water, respectively, for 28 consecutive days. The cellular expression of ER and AR in the prostate of mice in different groups was evaluated by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the positivity rate of ER and its expression level were significantly increased in the mouse prostate after EGF treatment (P<0.01), and the ER expression level was significantly higher in mouse with 2 microg/day EGF treatment than in those treated with 2 microg/day EGF (P<0.01). AR positivity rate and expression level also increased significantly in comparison with the control group (P<0.05), but no significant variation was found between 1 microg/day and 2 microg/day EGF groups.

CONCLUSIONEGF can increase the cellular expression of ER and AR in mice prostate and may play a role in the pathogenesis of prostatic hyperplasia.

Animals ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Male ; Mice ; Prostate ; cytology ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Androgen ; biosynthesis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effect of potassium channel blocker (tetraethylammonium [TEA], aminopyridine [4-AP], glibenclamide [Glib]) on the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells in vitro.

METHODSThe primary culture was prepared by collagenase dissociation of minced prostatic tissues. Cells were cultured in serum-free prostate epithelial cell growth media and identified by immunocytochemical studies. TEA and 4-AP at the concentration of 1, 5 and 10 mmol/L and Glib at the concentration of 10, 50 and 100 mol/L were added, and after 24, 48 and 72 hours of culturing, a cell column diagram was drawn and the cell number counted. The post-passage cell growth was observed by MTT assay and Hoechst33258 nucleus staining.

RESULTSThe cultured cells showed the typical morphological features of epithelia, with positive stain. MTT assay and Hoechst33258 staining showed that TEA, 4-AP and Glib at the increasing concentration effected different degrees of proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells after 24, 48 and 72 h (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe potassium channel blocker is a direct physiological regulator of the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Male ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Prostate ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley