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

The protooncogene c-myc is known to be associated with both cell proliferation and apoptosis. The possible cellular affects of castration on the ventral prostate gland of rat as well as the relationship to a castration induced c-myc expression were examined. Levels of c-myc mRNA in the ventral prostate gland peaked at 6 h (early induction) and 48 h (late induction) after castration, respectively. Castration-induced DNA fragmentation was not observed at an early induction of c-myc mRNA. DNA fragmentation appeared to be testosterone-dependent. On the other hand, cellular DNA synthesis measured by [3H]thymidine uptake in the ventral prostate gland was increased to maximum at 6 h after castration. These results suggest that an early induction of c-myc mRNA in ventral prostate gland after castration is closely associated with cell proliferation of the gland.
Animal ; Apoptosis ; Cell Division ; DNA Fragmentation ; Male ; *Orchiectomy ; Prostate/*cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/biosynthesis/*genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to investigate DNA content and expression of c-erbB-2, PS2, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) proteins in breast carcinomas with neuroendocrine (NE) cell differentiation.

METHODSChromogranin, c-erbB-2, PS2, and PSA in 131 samples of breast cancer were detected immunohistochemically. Classic Feulgen staining image analysis techniques were used to quantify DNA content in 81 of the breast cancer samples.

RESULTSThe c-erbB-2 positive rate in breast carcinoma samples containing neuroendocrine cells was 37.5% and the rate of high expression of c-erbB-2 (++ or +++) was 33.3%, both significantly lower than that in breast carcinomas without neuroendocrine cells (62.6% and 68.7%, respectively, P < 0.05). The rates of positive PS2 and PSA expression in breast carcinoma samples containing neuroendocrine cells were 72.2% and 55.0%, respectively, both significantly higher than that in breast carcinoma samples without neuroendocrine cells (45.0% and 16.4%, respectively, P < 0.05). In NE(+) samples, the integral optical density, DNA index, DNA stemline peak, > 5 c aneuploidy cells, and rate of aneuploidy among cells were all lower than that in NE(-) breast carcinomas (P < 0.01). In NE(+) grade I or II breast carcinomas, these indices were also all lower than that in the NE(-) breast carcinoma samples (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBreast carcinomas with neuroendocrine differentiation have a lower rate of malignancy. Neuroendocrine differentiation could serve as a prognostic marker in clinical practice.

Breast Neoplasms ; chemistry ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; DNA ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; analysis ; Neurosecretory Systems ; cytology ; Presenilin-2 ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; analysis ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in the expressions of somatomedins in the prostate epithelial cells in anoxic condition.

METHODSWe cultured prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1 in vitro. At 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 hours after seeding of the cells, we determined the gene and protein expressions of the epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the prostate epithelial cells by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTSWith the increase of time, the expressions of the EGF, bFGF, TGF-beta, IGF-1 and VEGF genes were obviously up-regulated, more significantly in the anoxic than in the normoxic prostate epithelial cells. Take FGF mRNA, its expression level was 0.14 +/- 0.01 in the anoxic and 0. 12 +/- 0.01 in the normoxic prostate epithelial cells at 8 hours (P = 0.01), but increased to 0.29 +/- 0.01 and 0.14 +/- 0.01, respectively, at 48 hours (P < 0.001). The expression of the TGF-beta protein was also more significantly increased in the anoxic than in the normoxic prostate epithelial cells, 0.32 +/- 0.01 versus 0.26 +/- 0.01 at 4 hours (P = 0.017) and 1.56 +/- 0.13 versus 0.87 +/- 0.06 at 48 hours (P < 0.001). The other 4 somatomedins showed no significant differences in their protein expressions between anoxic and normoxic conditions.

CONCLUSIONAnoxia can up-regulate the gene expressions of somatomedins and increase the secretion of TGF-beta in prostate epithelial cells.

Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Somatomedins ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

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