Lin Victor K, Wang Shih-Ya, Boetticher Nicholas C, Vazquez Dolores V, Saboorian Hossein, McConnell John D, Roehrborn Claus G
Department of Urology, The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Prostate. 2005 May 15;63(3):299-308. doi: 10.1002/pros.20183.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized as a stromal process. The stroma smooth muscle (SM) may alter its phenotype during the progression of BPH. We have identified gene transcripts that may be differentially expressed in BPH using a differential display method. Among the fragments isolated, alpha(2) macroglobulin (alpha(2)-M) is one of the most interesting. alpha(2)-M is a binding protein of a variety of proteinases, including prostatic specific antigen (PSA). It also plays roles in molecular trapping and targeting. In this study, we characterized alpha(2)-M expression in the human prostate.
Differential display was used to identify and isolate the differentially expressed transcripts between normal prostate and BPH tissues. RT-PCR, Western blot, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry were utilized to confirm and characterize alpha(2)-M expression in the prostate.
Real-time RT-PCR results revealed that a 3.2-fold increase in alpha(2)-M mRNA expression is observed in BPH compared with normal prostate tissue. A 1.9-fold increase at protein level was also observed. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed that alpha(2)-M expression is primarily localized to the stromal compartment. Cultured primary stroma cells maintained alpha(2)-M expression, while prostate epithelial cells had a significantly lower level of alpha(2)-M expression. Furthermore, stromal cells in culture produce and secrete alpha(2)-M in the medium.
We identified alpha(2)-M expression in the human prostate. An increased alpha(2)-M expression appears to be associated with BPH. Considering the unique features of its protein binding and targeting properties, alpha(2)-M expressed in the prostate may play an important role in regulating benign and malignant prostatic growth.
良性前列腺增生（BPH）的特征是一种间质过程。在BPH进展过程中，间质平滑肌（SM）可能会改变其表型。我们使用差异显示方法鉴定了可能在BPH中差异表达的基因转录本。在分离出的片段中，α2巨球蛋白（α2-M）是最有趣的之一。α2-M是多种蛋白酶的结合蛋白，包括前列腺特异性抗原（PSA）。它还在分子捕获和靶向中发挥作用。在本研究中，我们对人前列腺中α2-M的表达进行了表征。
使用差异显示来鉴定和分离正常前列腺组织与BPH组织之间差异表达的转录本。利用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）、蛋白质印迹法、原位杂交和免疫组织化学来确认和表征前列腺中α2-M的表达。
实时RT-PCR结果显示，与正常前列腺组织相比，BPH中α2-M mRNA表达增加了3.2倍。在蛋白质水平上也观察到增加了1.9倍。原位杂交和免疫组织化学显示，α2-M表达主要定位于间质区室。培养的原代间质细胞维持α2-M表达，而前列腺上皮细胞中α2-M表达水平明显较低。此外，培养的间质细胞在培养基中产生并分泌α2-M。
我们鉴定了人前列腺中α2-M的表达。α2-M表达增加似乎与BPH有关。考虑到其蛋白质结合和靶向特性的独特特征，前列腺中表达的α2-M可能在调节前列腺良性和恶性生长中起重要作用。
