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Transforming growth factor‐β3 is expressed in nondividing basal epithelial cells in normal human prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia, and is no longer detectable in prostate carcinoma
Author(s) -
Djonov Valentin,
Ball Roland K.,
Graf Simon,
Mottaz Alain E.,
Arnold AnneMarie,
Flanders Kathy,
Studer Urs E.,
Merz Vincent W.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0045(19970501)31:2<103::aid-pros5>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - prostate , hyperplasia , basal (medicine) , carcinoma , medicine , pathology , biology , cancer , insulin
BACKGROUND We investigated the role of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) family in the neoplastic progression of the human prostate. METHODS Expression of TGF‐β mRNA was measured by Northern blot analysis of tissue extracts, and TGF‐β protein by immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections. Proliferating cells were detected by their expression of Ki‐67 antigen. RESULTS The level of TGF‐β1 mRNA was equal among normal prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate carcinoma. TGF‐β2 mRNA was not detectable, and TGF‐β3 mRNA was expressed 20‐fold lesion in carcinoma compared to BPH and normal prostate. TGF‐β1 protein was expressed in the stromal cells in all three tissues and TGF‐β3 protein in the basal layer of epithelial cells, but not in carcinoma. Proliferating epithelial cells fail to express TGF‐β3. CONCLUSIONS TGF‐β1 and TGF‐β3 are independently regulated, and carcinoma of the prostate is characterized by the loss of basal epithelial cells expressing TGF‐β3. Prostate 31:103–109, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.