Prostatic stem cell marker identified by cDNA microarray in mouse.
OBJECTIVE
Identifying prostatic stem cells is important to elucidate the mechanisms by which the prostate develops and control prostate cancer. We recently reported that the proximal region of the mouse prostate contains a population of stem cells. However, to our knowledge the specific marker of stem cells in the proximal region remains unknown.


METHODS
We performed cDNA microarray analysis of cells obtained from the proximal region and from the remaining regions in dorsal prostates to identify several candidate stem cell markers. After we focused on 1 candidate among them we confirmed the expression of this candidate gene by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis and immunohistochemistry. We also investigated the relation between positive cells for this marker and those for telomerase reverse transcriptase. Finally, we investigated the functional potential of prominin positive cells in 3-dimensional culture.


RESULTS
Seven of 4,800 genes analyzed showed proximal/remaining ratios greater than 20. Of these genes we focused on prominin because it is a cell surface marker widely used to identify and isolate stem cells from various organs. We found a prominin positive cell population enriched in the basal cell layer in the proximal region, and the coincidence of prominin and telomerase reverse transcriptase immunostaining. We also found that prominin positive cells gave rise to numerous and large-branched ducts, whereas prominin negative cells formed far fewer such structures in 3-dimensional culture.


CONCLUSIONS
A small population of prominin positive cells in the mouse prostate basal layer of the proximal region represents a stem cell population.
Tsujimura
Akira
A
Department of Urology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita and Osaka Police Hospital, Osaka, Japan. atitsuji@uro.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Fujita
Kazutoshi
K
Komori
Kazuhiko
K
Takao
Tetsuya
T
Miyagawa
Yasushi
Y
Takada
Shingo
S
Matsumiya
Kiyomi
K
Nonomur
Norio
N
Okuyama
Akihiko
A
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002469:Cell Separation; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010455:Peptides; D019098:Telomerase