Objective To investigate the effect of LMO2 gene, which is overexpressed in prostate peripheral zone than transitional zone, on proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer PC-3 cell line or normal prostate epithelial BPH-1 cell line. Methods Lentivirus overexpression system was used to establish the LMO2 protein overexpressed prostate WPMY-1 stromal cell line. The LMO2 mRNA and protein expression level of those cells was evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blot. The PC-3 or BPH-1 cells was co-cultured with prostate stromal cells and the in vitro proliferation and invasion activity were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), EdU and Matrigel invasive assays. Results The stable LMO2 overexpressed prostate stromal cells WPMY-1-LMO2 was successfully established. The results of CCK-8, EdU experiments indicated the proliferation and invasion activity of PC-3 or BPH-1 cells were both enhanced through co-cultured with WPMY-1-LMO2 cells. The proportion of EdU positive cells of PC-3 cultured in WPMY-1-LMO2 supernatant was (42.67±6.03)%, and the difference was significant compared with the control group (29.33±3.51)% (P<0.05). The BPH-1 cultured in the supernatant was (35.00±2.52)%, and the difference was significant compared with the control group (23.33±2.52)% (P<0.05). The number of invaded PC-3 or BPH-1 cells after co-cultured with WPMY-1-LMO2 cells was 38±5 and 43±3, respectively, which was significantly different compared with the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions The LMO2 overexpressed prostate stromal cells could induce proliferation and invasion of PC-3 or BPH-1 cells. The propensity of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer at different zones may probably be related to distinctive gene expression between peripheral zone and transitional zone derived stromal cells. Key words: Prostatic neoplasms; Stromal cells; Epithelial cells; LMO2 gene