The accumulation of versican in the nodules of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
BACKGROUND
Proteoglycans, a complex group of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, are elevated in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Versican is a stromal proteoglycan present in prostate tissue. Versican expression is elevated in tissues with increased proliferation. Based on these observations, we determined the extent and distribution of versican expression in prostates with BPH.


METHODS
The involvement of versican in BPH nodules was compared with levels in non-nodular transition (TZ) and peripheral zone (PZ) tissues from 18 human prostate glands using immunohistochemistry, Northern blots and/or QRTPCR to localize versican and quantify versican mRNA transcript levels, and Western blots to assess gene product levels.


RESULTS
Increased versican immunoreactivity was observed in the stroma of BPH nodules. Higher steady state levels of versican variants V0, V1, and V3 mRNA transcript and gene product were detected in the nodular tissues than in the non-nodular TZ or PZ parenchyma.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that versican may play a role in nodule formation in BPH.
True
Lawrence D
LD
Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-6100, USA. ltrue@u.washington.edu
Hawley
Sarah
S
Norwood
Thomas H
TH
Braun
Kathleen R
KR
Evanko
Stephen P
SP
Chan
Christina K
CK
LeBaron
Richard C
RC
Wight
Thomas N
TN
D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011467:Prostate / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D053675:Versicans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; C508322:VCAN protein, human; D053675:Versicans; D012313:RNA