A simple method for the isolation and culture of epithelial and stromal cells from benign and neoplastic prostates.
OBJECTIVE
Current primary prostate cell culture techniques use an overnight digestion or extensive media preparation. In this report, we describe a method for the culture of benign and neoplastic cells from human prostatectomy specimens that is rapid and contains no undefined factors in the medium.


METHODS
Characterization of the human cultured prostate cells was performed using immunohistochemical methods and monoclonal antibodies AE1/AE3 and cytokeratin 8, as well as monoclonal antibodies against prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the exclusive epithelial and stromal cell products, c-met and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), respectively. Electron microscopy was performed to assess the cell junctions and morphologic features of epithelial cells. Optimum cell growth in different media was tested using a cell replication assay.


RESULTS
Microscopic evidence revealed that the cells demonstrate typical epithelial morphology, with polyhedral cells forming tight junctions in a continuous monolayer. Desmosomes were present in electron micrographs of epithelial cells. The cultured epithelial cells described in this report also demonstrate positive cytokeratin staining. The epithelial cells reacted positively with PSA antibody, indicating that the cells retain their secretory role in cell culture for a limited period. Epithelial cells expressed the HGF receptor, c-met; stromal cells secreted HGF. Insulin, transferrin, and selenium increased the growth of cells in the chemically defined media, compared with minimum essential media (MEM) and Ham's F12.


CONCLUSIONS
In summary, essentially pure cultures of prostate stromal or epithelial cells have been established using simple isolation and culture methods. These cells will be useful for the investigation of related growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor I and insulin-like growth factor II, and in understanding the basis for stromal-epithelial cell interactions.
Krill
D
D
Department of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pennsylvania, USA.
Shuman
M
M
Thompson
M T
MT
Becich
M J
MJ
Strom
S C
SC
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases