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Studies on the differentiation pathway and growth characteristics of epithelial culture cells of the human prostate

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 7, pages 73–83 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

We established explant primary cultures in order to study the growth and hormone responsiveness, and the differentiation process of prostatic epithelial cells. Cell outgrowth was achieved from explant tissue by using a new DU145-cell-conditioned medium and special plastic coverslips. To define the present model, proliferation assays were tested by [3H]thymidine assay and planimetric analysis. Cells were analyzed using immunocytochemistry, light, phase contrast and electron microscopy, polymerase chain reaction, telomerase ELISA and immunoassay (PSA). Morphology and electron microscopy revealed typical epithelial differentiation. Immunocytochemistry showed the content of basal and secretory epithelial cells, endocrine paracrine cells and a high level of proliferation. With increasing culture time, mature epithelial differentiation (PSA) increases and the initial increase of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) decreases again. After further passaging, α-SMA expression is no longer detected and PSA expression decreases. Furthermore, epithelial cells showed both androgen responsiveness and androgen receptor expression. These findings show the presence of epithelial cells in a process of differentiation with endocrine paracrine cells and a high level of proliferation. This model may maintain the cellular and functional properties more closely related to the human prostate and may provide a valuable tool for studying stem cells and differentiation characteristics.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr GR Dickersin for helpful comments in the electron microscopic evaluation and P Sherwood for technical support in electron microscopy. This work was supported by Urology Department Funds, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; National Cooperative Program for Infertility Research Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital (HD29164); and The German Research Foundation (DFG PL-2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria

    B Planz & M Marberger

  2. Department of Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    B Planz, S Tabatabaei, S D Kirley, C-W Lin & W S McDougal

  3. Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    H T Aretz

  4. Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    QiFa Wang

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Correspondence to B Planz.

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Planz, B., Tabatabaei, S., Kirley, S. et al. Studies on the differentiation pathway and growth characteristics of epithelial culture cells of the human prostate. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 7, 73–83 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500704

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