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The ErbB signaling network is coordinately expressed and activated in the mouse prostate
Author(s) -
Zhu Yun,
Jones Frank E.
Publication year - 2004
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.20042
Subject(s) - erbb , prostate , receptor tyrosine kinase , prostate cancer , receptor , erbb4 , cancer research , biology , signal transduction , immunohistochemistry , medicine , endocrinology , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology
BACKGROUND The ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases contribute to human prostate cancer, however, ErbB activity in the normal prostate requires further investigation. The mouse prostate may serve as an important model system to study the molecular mechanisms regulating ErbB signaling in the prostate. METHODS We employed RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry to perform a comprehensive expression profile of ErbB receptors and ligands in the mouse prostate. Physiological receptor activation in situ was measured by receptor phospho‐tyrosine analysis. RESULTS Expression of all four ErbB receptors and the EGF‐like ligands EGF, TGFα, AR, βC, Hb‐EGF, NRG1, and NRG3 was detected in the mouse prostate. We failed to detect expression of the ErbB ligand, ER. Physiological receptor activation was observed within the mature mouse prostate at 10 weeks but not in the prostates of 3‐ or 6‐week‐old mice. CONCLUSIONS Coordinated ErbB receptor and ligand expression coupled with receptor activation profiles provide strong evidence that ErbB signaling contributes to mouse prostate function. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.