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Expression of urocortin mRNA and peptide in the human prostate and in prostatic adenocarcinoma
Author(s) -
Arcuri Felice,
Cintorino Marcella,
Florio Pasquale,
Floccari Federica,
Pergola Loreta,
Romagnoli Roberta,
Petraglia Felice,
Tosi Piero,
Teresa del Vecchio Maria
Publication year - 2002
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/pros.10094
Subject(s) - prostate , prostate cancer , immunostaining , immunohistochemistry , adrenomedullin , urocortin , endocrinology , hyperplasia , pca3 , adenocarcinoma , medicine , stroma , pathology , biology , cancer , receptor
BACKGROUND Urocortin (UCN) is a recently described neuropeptide member of the CRF family, responsible for the secretion of the proopiomelanocortin‐derived peptides from the pituitary gland. Although previous results have demonstrated the synthesis of several neuroendocrine factors in the prostate, no studies have been carried out on the expression of UCN in the human gland. METHODS UCN expression was evaluated in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic tumor tissues by RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS UCN mRNA and peptide were demonstrated in all specimens tested. In nonneoplastic tissues, UCN was localized in the secretory luminal epithelial and basal layer cells, in the smooth muscle component of the stroma, and in lymphoid infiltrates. An intense immunostaining was evident in prostate adenocarcinoma cells. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study demonstrate for the first time UCN expression in the human prostate and in prostate cancer, and suggest a potential involvement of UCN in prostate physiopathology. Prostate 52:167–172, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.