Prostatic expression of hensin, a protein implicated in epithelial terminal differentiation.
OBJECTIVE
Hensin induces terminal differentiation in rabbit kidney collecting tubule cells. Rabbit hensin and human DMBT1 result from alternative splicing of the same gene. The human DMBT1 gene is located on chromosome 10q25-26, a region often deleted in prostate cancer. In this study we examined the potential role of this gene in terminal differentiation of prostate, as well as its role in prostatic carcinogenesis.


METHODS
We searched for deletions of this gene in prostatic cells cultured from cancer and benign tissues using PCR and cDNA cloning. The expression of hensin/DMBT1 in cultured cells and during prostate development was characterized by immunochemistry.


RESULTS
No deletions of hensin/DMBT1 similar to those found in glioblastomas, lung and esophageal cancers were observed in prostate cancer or BPH cells. Hensin/DMBT1 protein was localized in intracellular vesicles of epithelial cells in neonatal and 6-week-old mouse prostates. By 6 weeks, hensin/DMBT1 began to localize in the basal lamina of the prostate and vas deferens. In matured 6-month-old prostates, there was extensive deposition of hensin/DMBT1 in the basal lamina.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no evidence that hensin/DMBT1 is implicated in prostatic carcinogenesis. The localization of hensin/DMBT1 during maturation raises the possibility that hensin/DMBT1 is involved in terminal differentiation of the prostate and vas deferens.
Ma
J F
JF
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Takito
J
J
Vijayakumar
S
S
Peehl
D M
DM
Olsson
C A
CA
Al-Awqati
Q
Q
D000373:Agglutinins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018110:Receptors, Lipoprotein; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger; D051122:Scavenger Receptors, Class B; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*
D000373:Agglutinins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C108174:DMBT1 protein, human; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D018110:Receptors, Lipoprotein; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger; C454739:Scarb1 protein, mouse; D051122:Scavenger Receptors, Class B; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C495130:hensin protein, rabbit