title: [Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and human fetal prostate development].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role and significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its transcriptional regulator Twist1 in the development of the human fetal prostate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five human fetal prostate specimens at various developmental stages (16-39 weeks) were included in this study. EMT markers, such as E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin and Vimentin, and EMT transcriptional regulator Twist1 were determined by immunohistochemistry, and their relationship with the development of the human fetal prostate was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  E-Cadherin was expressed in the fetal prostate epithelium only, while Vimentin, N-Cadherin and Twist1 in both the epithelium and the stroma. The expression of E-Cadherin gradually increased, but those of Vimentin, N-Cadherin and Twist1 gradually decreased with the gestation stages. No significant changes were observed in the staining patterns of Vimentin, N-Cadherin and Twist1 in the stroma during the whole developmental process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EMT is involved in the development of the human fetal prostate, which may promote epithelial cell motility to form prostatic bud tubules in early gestation stages and boost the differentiation of prostate epithelia in later stages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital ofXi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China. zhoujc1207@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Jian-cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Guo-dong
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Kai-jie
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Yu-le
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xin-yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Da-lin
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D054337:Cell Dedifferentiation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011467:Prostate / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C103173:TWIST1 protein, human; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1; D014746:Vimentin