The rat prostatic epithelial cell line NRP-152 can differentiate in vivo in response to its stromal environment.
BACKGROUND
The clonally derived rat prostatic epithelial cell line NRP-152 was examined to determine its ability to differentiate in a tissue recombination model.


METHODS
NRP-152 cells alone, or combined with urogenital mesenchyme (UGM) or 10T1/2 fibroblasts, were grafted beneath the renal capsule of athymic rodent hosts. After 1 and 3 months, grafts were examined grossly and immunohistochemically.


RESULTS
NRP-152 cells grafted alone formed small (10-25 mg) grafts without recognizable architecture. NRP-152 cells recombined with UGM formed larger grafts (50-100 mg after 28 days) containing glandular epithelium. Columnar luminal cells expressed cytokeratins 8 and 18 and rat prostatic secretory markers (DP-1 and DP-2). The epithelial ducts were surrounded by well-differentiated smooth muscle. The glandular epithelial cells were shown to be of rat origin. NRP-152 + 10T1/2 tissue recombinants formed small grafts (10-40 mg wet weight) after 1 month. The epithelial component of these grafts formed solid unbranched cords expressing cytokeratins 5 and 14; no glandular epithelial structures were observed. The stromal matrix was densely packed with a few cells expressing alpha-actin.


CONCLUSIONS
A clonally derived prostatic epithelial cell line can form structurally and functionally normal prostatic tissue. This suggests that prostatic basal and luminal epithelial cells can be derived from a common progenitor.
Hayward
S W
SW
Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, 94115-0738, USA. simonh@itsa.ucsf.edu
Haughney
P C
PC
Lopes
E S
ES
Danielpour
D
D
Cunha
G R
GR
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous