title: Transforming growth factor-beta 3 is expressed in nondividing basal epithelial cells in normal human prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia, and is no longer detectable in prostate carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the role of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) family in the neoplastic progression of the human prostate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of TGF-beta mRNA was measured by Northern blot analysis of tissue extracts, and TGF-beta protein by immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections. Proliferating cells were detected by their expression of Ki-67 antigen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of TGF-beta 1 mRNA was equal among normal prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate carcinoma. TGF-beta 2 mRNA was not detectable, and TGF-beta 3 mRNA was expressed 20-fold lesion in carcinoma compared to BPH and normal prostate. TGF-beta 1 protein was expressed in the stromal cells in all three tissues and TGF-beta 3 protein in the basal layer of epithelial cells, but not in carcinoma. Proliferating epithelial cells fail to express TGF-beta 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 3 are independently regulated, and carcinoma of the prostate is characterized by the loss of basal epithelial cells expressing TGF-beta 3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Research, University of Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Djonov
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Mottaz
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Flanders
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Studer
authors.forename: V W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Merz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002455:Cell Division; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta