Expression of urocortin mRNA and peptide in the human prostate and in prostatic adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Urocortin (UCN) is a recently described neuropeptide member of the CRF family, responsible for the secretion of the proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides from the pituitary gland. Although previous results have demonstrated the synthesis of several neuroendocrine factors in the prostate, no studies have been carried out on the expression of UCN in the human gland.


METHODS
UCN expression was evaluated in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic tumor tissues by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
UCN mRNA and peptide were demonstrated in all specimens tested. In nonneoplastic tissues, UCN was localized in the secretory luminal epithelial and basal layer cells, in the smooth muscle component of the stroma, and in lymphoid infiltrates. An intense immunostaining was evident in prostate adenocarcinoma cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study demonstrate for the first time UCN expression in the human prostate and in prostate cancer, and suggest a potential involvement of UCN in prostate physiopathology.
Institute of Pathological Anatomy and Histology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. arcuri@unisi.it
Felice
F
Arcuri
Marcella
M
Cintorino
Pasquale
P
Florio
Federica
F
Floccari
Loreta
L
Pergola
Roberta
R
Romagnoli
Felice
F
Petraglia
Piero
P
Tosi
Maria
M
Teresa Del Vecchio
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D054832:Urocortins
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054832:Urocortins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone