FGF-10 is expressed at low levels in the human prostate.
BACKGROUND
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are known to play an important role in the growth of normal prostatic epithelial cells. FGF-10 is a secreted growth factor that binds to FGF receptor-2 IIIb, which is expressed in prostatic epithelial cells and thus can potentially act as a growth factor for these cells. Prior work has indicated that FGF10 may play an important role in the development of the rat prostate, but its role in the adult human prostate is unclear.


METHODS
Expression of FGF10 in human prostate tissue and primary cultures of prostatic epithelial and stromal cells was assessed by reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and Northern blotting. Growth response to FGF10 was assessed by the addition of recombinant FGF-10 to primary cultures of prostatic epithelial and stromal cells.


RESULTS
FGF10 is expressed at levels detectable by RT-PCR and can act as a growth factor for prostatic epithelial cells, but is not active as a growth factor for stromal cells. However, FGF10 is expressed at extremely low levels relative to FGF7, which has a similar biological activity.


CONCLUSIONS
While FGF10 may play a role in prostatic development, it is unlikely to play a major role in prostate growth in normal or hyperplastic adult human prostate, due to its extremely low expression compared to FGF7.
Ropiquet
F
F
Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, TX 77030, USA.
Giri
D
D
Kwabi-Addo
B
B
Schmidt
K
K
Ittmann
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
C496463:FGF10 protein, human; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D008934:Mitogens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors