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Laminin alpha‐1, alpha‐3, and alpha‐5 chain expression in human prepubetal benign prostate glands and adult benign and malignant prostate glands
Author(s) -
Brar Preetinder K.,
Dalkin Bruce L.,
Weyer Chris,
Sallam Karim,
Virtanen Ismo,
Nagle Raymond B.
Publication year - 2003
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.10206
Subject(s) - prostate , laminin , immunohistochemistry , alpha (finance) , basement membrane , pathology , extracellular matrix , medicine , carcinoma , endocrinology , biology , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , construct validity , nursing , patient satisfaction
BACKGROUND Laminins (Lns) are a family of extracellular matrix glycoproteins located in the basement membrane (BM) of epithelial cells. They exist as heterotrimers composed of an α, β, and γ chain. Presently, five α (α1–5), three β (β1–3), and three γ (γ1–3) chains have been identified with different combinations of these chains resulting in 14 laminin heterotrimers thus far identified (1, 3–5). METHODS In this study, using immunohistochemistry with chain‐specific antibodies, we characterized the expression of the α1 (Lns‐1/3), α3 (Lns 5,6,7), and α5 (Lns 10/11) chains in fetal, newborn, infant, prepubertal, and adult benign and malignant prostate glands. RESULTS In general, α1 expression was higher in normal fetal prostate glands and declined by full‐term birth, whereas the α3 and α5 chains remained highly expressed in the adult normal glands. In carcinoma α1 (Lns 1/3) and α5 (Lns 5,6,7) are lost, whereas α5 (Lns 10/11) persists. CONCLUSIONS Alpha 1 (Lns 1/3) is prominent in BM, but is replaced by a laminin matrix rich in α3 (Lns 5,6,7) and α5 (Lns 10/11) in benign adult prostate glands. In carcinoma, both α1 (Lns‐1/3) and α3 (Lns 5,6,7) are not expressed with persistence of a BM rich in α5 (Lns 10/11). Prostate 55:65–70, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.