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Characterization of subepithelial interstitial cells in normal and pathological human prostate
Author(s) -
Gevaert Thomas,
Lerut Evelyne,
Joniau Steven,
Franken Jan,
Roskams Tania,
De Ridder Dirk
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/his.12402
Subject(s) - stromal cell , pathology , immunohistochemistry , prostate cancer , prostate , hyperplasia , interstitial cell , mesenchymal stem cell , biology , cell , medicine , cancer , genetics
Aims To characterize the subepithelial ( SE ) stromal cells in normal human prostate and to study phenotypical changes in these SE stromal cells in benign prostate hyperplasia ( BPH ) and prostate cancer ( PC a). Methods and results Tissue was obtained from normal, hyperplastic and tumoral areas in prostatectomy specimens. Tissue samples were processed for morphology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. An ultrastructural and immunohistochemical phenotype for the SE stromal cells was assessed, and changes occurring in BPH and PC a were looked for. Based on the ultrastructural findings the dominant SE stromal cell types in normal prostate were interstitial Cajal‐like cells and spindle‐shaped myoid cells with both myoid and fibroblastic features. An immunohistochemical correlate was found with selective expression of mesenchymal and myoid cell markers. In BPH and PC a, a changed stromal cell composition of the SE region was found. Furthermore, direct contacts between spindle‐shaped myoid cells and tumour cells were observed in PC a. Conclusions The present study shows for the first time that the SE area in the human prostate houses different stromal cell types with distinct phenotypes. In BPH and PC a specific disease‐related changes were observed in the organization and phenotypes of SE interstitial cells.