[Expression and significance of caspase-1 in benign hyperplastic prostate tissues].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and significance of caspase-1 in normal and hyperplastic prostate tissues.


METHODS
Twenty-eight paraffin-embedded sections, including 21 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 7 normal prostate tissue samples, were investigated immunohistochemically for caspase-1.


RESULTS
The rate of caspase-1 expression in the BPH tissues was 71.4% (15/21 ) while that in the normal prostate tissues was 100%. The expression level of caspase-1 in both epithelial cells and interstitial cells of the hyperplastic prostate tissues was obviously lower than that of the normal prostate tissues (P < 0.01). Within the BPH tissues, the expression level of caspase-1 in the epithelial cells was higher than in the interstitial cells, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of caspase-1 is dramatically reduced in the hyperplastic prostate tissues, which indicates that the decline of caspase-1-dependent apoptosis might be involved in the progress of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Deng
Chun-Hua
CH
Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China. dch0313@163.com
Zang
Zhi-Jun
ZJ
Sun
Xiang-Zhou
XZ
Huang
Xiao-Hui
XH
Wang
Hao
H
Wang
Dong
D
Su
Sheng-Hua
SH
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000201:enzymology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
D020170:Caspase 1