Abstract
BackgroundHuman prostate basal cells expressing alpha-6 integrin (CD49fHi) and/or CD44 form prostaspheres in vitro. This functional trait is often correlated with stem/progenitor (S/P) activity, including the ability to self-renew and induce differentiated tubules in vivo. Antigenic profiles that distinguish tubule-initiating prostate stem cells (SCs) from progenitor cells (PCs) and mature luminal cells (LCs) with less regenerative potential are unknown.Methodology/Principle FindingsProstasphere assays and RT-PCR analysis was performed following FACS separation of total benign prostate cells based upon combinations of Epcam, CD44, and/or CD49f expression. Epithelial cell fractions were isolated, including Epcam+CD44+ and Epcam+CD44+CD49fHi basal cells that formed abundant spheres. When non-sphere-forming Epcam+CD44− cells were fractionated based upon CD49f expression, a distinct subpopulation (Epcam+CD44−CD49fHi) was identified that possessed a basal profile similar to Epcam+CD44+CD49fHi sphere-forming cells (p63+ARLoPSA−). Evaluation of tubule induction capability of fractionated cells was performed, in vivo, via a fully humanized prostate tissue regeneration assay. Non-sphere-forming Epcam+CD44− cells induced significantly more prostate tubular structures than Epcam+CD44+ sphere-forming cells. Further fractionation based upon CD49f co-expression identified Epcam+CD44−CD49fHi (non-sphere-forming) basal cells with significantly increased tubule induction activity compared to Epcam+CD44−CD49fLo (true) luminal cells.Conclusions/SignificanceOur data delineates antigenic profiles that functionally distinguish human prostate epithelial subpopulations, including putative SCs that display superior tubule initiation capability and induce differentiated ductal/acini structures, sphere-forming PCs with relatively decreased tubule initiation activity, and terminally differentiated LCs that lack both sphere–forming and tubule-initiation activity. The results clearly demonstrate that sphere-forming ability is not predictive of tubule-initiation activity. The subpopulations identified are of interest because they may play distinct roles as cells of origin in the development of prostatic diseases, including cancer.
Highlights
Human adult prostate S/Ps are characterized by surface marker expression, as well as functional traits, including the ability to selfrenewal and differentiate into multiple lineages [1,2,3,4,5]
Based on the expression pattern of Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (Epcam) and CD44 observed in IHC analysis of benign prostate tubules, it appears that Epcam+CD44+ cells compose the basal layer, while Epcam+CD442 cells appear predominantly luminal (Figure 1A)
We hypothesized that fractionating total prostate cells based upon the combination of Epcam and CD44 expression profiles could be a first step in determining antigenic profiles that delineate human prostate cellular hierarchy, by enabling basal and luminal separation
Summary
Human adult prostate S/Ps are characterized by surface marker expression, as well as functional traits, including the ability to selfrenewal and differentiate into multiple lineages [1,2,3,4,5]. A consensus does not exist regarding the antigenic profile of a functionally pure human prostate SC population and how to distinguish multipotent tubule-initiating SCs from progenitors with more limited potential. Making such a distinction may have important implications in understanding the etiology of prostatic disease, including benign prostatic hypertrophy and cancer. Human prostate basal cells expressing alpha-6 integrin (CD49fHi) and/or CD44 form prostaspheres in vitro This functional trait is often correlated with stem/progenitor (S/P) activity, including the ability to self-renew and induce differentiated tubules in vivo. Antigenic profiles that distinguish tubule-initiating prostate stem cells (SCs) from progenitor cells (PCs) and mature luminal cells (LCs) with less regenerative potential are unknown
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