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Inhibins, activins, and follistatins: Expression of mRNAs and cellular localization in tissues from men with benign prostatic hyperplasia
Author(s) -
Thomas Tania Z.,
Chapman Susan M.,
Hong Wang,
Gurusingfhe Chandan,
Mellor Sally L.,
Fletcher Richard,
Pedersen John,
Risbridger Gail P.
Publication year - 1998
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(19980101)34:1<34::aid-pros5>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - follistatin , paracrine signalling , endocrinology , medicine , messenger rna , biology , activin receptor , prostate , immunohistochemistry , western blot , protein subunit , hyperplasia , northern blot , transforming growth factor , receptor , gene , biochemistry , cancer
BACKGROUND The transforming growth factor |gb (TGF β) superfamily of growth factors includes activins and inhibins, which have been shown to be present in the rat ventral prostate, and human prostate tumor cell lines, although their localization in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissue is currently unknown. METHODS BPH tissues were obtained at surgery, and the mRNA expression for the inhibin α, β A , β B subunits, the putative activin β C subunit, the activin type II receptor (ActRII), and the activin binding protein, follistatin, was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Southern blot analysis. Antibodies specific for α, β A , β B , activin A, and follistatin were used to determine the localization of these proteins in BPH tissue specimens. RESULTS Southern blot analysis confirmed that mRNA for ActRII, β C subunit, and follistatin was present in all biopsy samples assayed. However, α, β A , and β B subunit mRNA expression was variable between patient samples. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the predominant localization of β A , β B , and activin A proteins to the epithelium of BPH tissues. No immunoreactivity for the inhibin α subunit was detected; follistatin immunoreactivity was localized to the fibroblastic stroma. CONCLUSIONS The compartmentalization of activin subunit proteins to the epithelium, and of follistatin to the stroma, suggests that a paracrine interaction occurs between the activin ligands and follistatin‐binding proteins in BPH tissue. Prostate 34:34–43, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.