title: Stromal expression of decorin, Semaphorin6D, SPARC, Sprouty1 and Tsukushi in developing prostate and decreased levels of decorin in prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  During prostate development, mesenchymal-epithelial interactions regulate organ growth and differentiation. In adult prostate, stromal-epithelial interactions are important for tissue homeostasis and also play a significant role in prostate cancer. In this study we have identified molecules that show a mesenchymal expression pattern in the developing prostate, and one of these showed reduced expression in prostate cancer stroma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five candidate molecules identified by transcript profiling of developmental prostate mesenchyme were selected using a wholemount in situ hybridisation screen and studied Decorin (Dcn), Semaphorin6D (Sema6D), SPARC/Osteonectin (SPARC), Sprouty1 (Spry-1) and Tsukushi (Tsku). Expression in rat tissues was evaluated using wholemount in situ hybridisation (postnatal day (P) 0.5) and immunohistochemistry (embryonic day (E) E17.5, E19.5; P0.5; P6; 28 & adult). Four candidates (Decorin, SPARC, Spry-1, Tsukushi) were immunolocalised in human foetal prostate (weeks 14, 16, 19) and expression of Decorin was evaluated on a human prostate cancer tissue microarray. In embryonic and perinatal rats Decorin, Semaphorin6D, SPARC, Spry-1 and Tsukushi were expressed with varying distribution patterns throughout the mesenchyme at E17.5, E19.5, P0.5 and P6.5. In P28 and adult prostates there was either a decrease in the expression (Semaphorin6D) or a switch to epithelial expression of SPARC, and Spry-1, whereas Decorin and Tsukushi were specific to mesenchyme/stroma at all ages. Expression of Decorin, SPARC, Spry-1 and Tsukushi in human foetal prostates paralleled that in rat. Decorin showed mesenchymal and stromal-specific expression at all ages and was further examined in prostate cancer, where stromal expression was significantly reduced compared with non-malignant prostate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We describe the spatio-temporal expression of Decorin, Semaphorin6D, SPARC, Spry-1 and Tsukushi in developing prostate and observed similar mesenchymal expression patterns in rat and human. Additionally, Decorin showed reduced expression in prostate cancer stroma compared to non-malignant prostate stroma.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council, Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queens's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. dr.a.henke@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henke
authors.forename: O Cathal
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: Grant D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Antony C P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Riddick
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yeun
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Axel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058575:Decorin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015676:Osteonectin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011467:Prostate / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D058575:Decorin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D015676:Osteonectin; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C486055:SPRY1 protein, human; D039961:Semaphorins; C404992:Spry2 protein, rat