Immunohistochemical localization of TGF beta 1, TGF beta 2, and TGF beta 3 in normal and malignant human prostate.
BACKGROUND
Prostate cancer eventually becomes androgen-independent, suggesting that growth factors such as TGF beta 1-3 may potentially contribute to prostate neoplasia. The pattern and level of TGF beta 1-3 protein expression in normal and malignant human prostate are unknown.


METHODS
An immunohistochemical study was undertaken to analyze TGF beta 1, TGF beta 2, and TGF beta 3 protein in malignant and adjacent normal prostates from 25 patients who had clinically localized prostate cancer.


RESULTS
Normal prostate exhibited similar TGF beta 1 immunostaining in stromal and epithelial cells, whereas TGF beta 2 and TGF beta 3 protein staining was greater in the epithelial relative to the stromal compartments. In malignancy, prostate epithelial cells had higher TGF beta 1 and TGF beta 2 immunostaining than either the surrounding stromal cells or their normal prostatic epithelial counterparts. Although TGF beta 3 staining intensity was similar for both malignant and normal prostate epithelial cells, the pattern of staining switched from uniform apical to diffuse protein staining in malignant prostate glands.


CONCLUSIONS
Prostate cancer was associated with alterations of TGF beta 1, TGF beta 2, and TGF beta 3 expression by prostatic epithelial cells which may play a role in prostatic carcinogenesis.
Perry
K T
KT
Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Anthony
C T
CT
Steiner
M S
MS
D000368:Aged; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007536:Isomerism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta