title: Isolation and characterization of human prostate stem/progenitor cells.
abstract: Isolation of prostate epithelial cells with stem/progenitor characteristics may enable further evaluation of the hierarchy of prostate glandular development and malignant transformation. Prostate epithelial cells capable of sphere formation in semisolid cultures possess stem/progenitor cell characteristics. This is demonstrated by self-renewal (via indefinite passaging) and in vivo differentiation into prostate tubules with discreet basal and luminal layers. Here, we describe a method for isolating prostate stem/progenitor cells from human tissues via in vitro prostasphere formation. Prostate tissue regeneration using human prostaspheres is also described, enabling the differentiation potential of sphere-forming cells to be observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Changyong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Baohui
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Isla P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Garraway
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002469:Cell Separation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology