BPH gene expression profile associated to prostate gland volume

Expression and functional activity of myosin II in hyperplastic prostates of varying volumes

Prostate volume (PV) differs dramatically among benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. Estimation of PV is important to guide the most appropriate pharmacologic or interventional treatment approach. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms for the differences in PV remain unknown. We recently found that the myosin II system might participate in the etiology and development of BPH via static and dynamic factors. Our present study aims to explore the expression and functional activities of myosin II isoforms including smooth muscle (SM) myosin II (SMM II) and non-muscle myosin II (NMM II) in hyperplastic prostates with varied PV. Human hyperplastic prostates and the testosterone-induced rat BPH model were employed for this study. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Masson's trichrome, immunohistochemical staining, in vitro organ bath, RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western-blotting were performed. Also, a BPH tissue microarray (TMA) was constructed to determine the correlations between myosin II isoforms with clinical parameters of BPH patients. With the increase of PV, the expression of NMMHC-A, NMMHC-C, SM-A and LC_17b isoforms were increased, and the contractility of prostate smooth muscle was enhanced but force developed more slowly. Consistently, NMMHC-A, NMMHC-C, SM-A and LC_17b were correlated positively with PV. Similar outcomes were also observed in the BPH rat model with different PVs. Alterations in the expression and function of myosin the II system may be involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of PV differences between BPH patients.

Differential gene expression of BCL-2, ZEB2-AS1 and BALR-2 in prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) are highly prevalent heterogeneous disorders among men. Whereas PCa and BPH underline common pathological features, apoptotic-related genes might be differentially expressed in these diseases. This study was aimed at testing BCL-2 as well as BALR-2 and ZEB2-AS1 apoptosis-related long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in patients with PCa and BPH. The expression levels of the BCL-2 gene and ZEB2-AS1 lncRNA were upregulated in tumoural tissues in comparison to adjacent non-cancerous tissues (ANCTs) and BPH tissues. In contrast, the expression level of BALR-2 lncRNA was significantly higher in BPH compared with tumoural tissues. Furthermore, while no association was noticed between the relative expression of ZEB2-AS1 and the tumour grade, the relative expression of BCL-2 and BALR-2 is strongly associated with a higher grade of the tumour in PCa samples compared with the ANCTs. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated the highest specificity and diagnostic value in distinguishing PCa and ANCTs as well as PCa and BPH, respectively. In conclusion, altered expression of BCL-2 and BALR-2 was observed to be associated with tumoural progression and could be used as potential candidates for distinguishing PCa tissues from ANCTs or BPH samples.

Unraveling the dark matter, long non-coding RNAs, in male reproductive diseases: A narrative review

Recent advances in human transcriptome have revealed the fundamental and functional roles of long non-coding RNA in the susceptibility to diverse diseases and pathological conditions. They participate in wide range of biological processes such as the modulating of chromatin structure, transcription, translation, and post-translation modification. In addition, based on their unique expression profiles and their association with clinical abnormalities such as those of related to male reproductive diseases, they can be used to develop therapeutic methods and biomarkers for screening of the diseases. In this study, we will review the identified lncRNAs and their molecular functions in the pathogenesis of male reproductive diseases such as prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, testicular cancer, varicocele, and sperm abnormalities.

Integrative multiplatform molecular profiling of benign prostatic hyperplasia identifies distinct subtypes

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate, is among the most common diseases affecting aging men, but the underlying molecular features remain poorly understood, and therapeutic options are limited. Here we employ a comprehensive molecular investigation of BPH, including genomic, transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling. We find no evidence of neoplastic features in BPH: no evidence of driver genomic alterations, including low coding mutation rates, mutational signatures consistent with aging tissues, minimal copy number alterations, and no genomic rearrangements. At the epigenetic level, global hypermethylation is the dominant process. Integrating transcriptional and methylation signatures identifies two BPH subgroups with distinct clinical features and signaling pathways, validated in two independent cohorts. Finally, mTOR inhibitors emerge as a potential subtype-specific therapeutic option, and men exposed to mTOR inhibitors show a significant decrease in prostate size. We conclude that BPH consists of distinct molecular subgroups, with potential for subtype-specific precision therapy.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 impairs benign prostatic luminal epithelial cell monolayer barrier function

Our recent studies identifying the presence of luminal secretory protein PSA in the stroma, decreased E-cadherin expression, and reduced number of tight junction kiss points in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues suggest that epithelial barrier permeability is increased in BPH. However, the cause of increased epithelial permeability in BPH is unclear. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) has been reported to be up-regulated in clinical BPH specimens and TGF-β1 overexpression induced fibrosis and inflammation in a murine model. TGF-β1 was reported to repress the expression of E-cadherin in benign prostatic cells. However, whether and how TGF-β1 up-regulation affects epithelial barrier permeability is unknown. Here, in vitro benign prostatic epithelial cell lines BHPrE1 and BPH-1 were utilized to determine the impact of TGF-β1 treatment on epithelial barrier, tight junctions, and expression of E-cadherin and claudin 1 by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurement, FITC-dextran trans-well diffusion assays, qPCR, as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation. Laser capture micro-dissection (LCM) combined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were utilized to determine the expression of E-cadherin and claudin 1 in BPH patient specimens. TGF-β1 treatment decreased TEER, increased FITC-dextran diffusion, and reduced the mRNA expression of junction protein claudin 1 in cultured cell monolayers. Claudin 1 mRNA but not E-cadherin mRNA was down-regulated in the luminal epithelial cells in BPH nodules compared to normal prostate tissues. Our studies suggest that TGF-β1 could increase the permeability through decreasing the expression of claudin 1 and inhibiting the formation of tight junctions in BHPrE1 and BPH-1 monolayers. These results suggest that TGF-β1 might play an important role in BPH pathogenesis through increasing the permeability of luminal epithelial barrier in the prostate.

Targeting phenotypic heterogeneity in benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia and associated lower urinary tract symptoms remain difficult to treat medically, resulting in hundreds of thousands of surgeries performed annually in elderly males. New therapies have not improved clinical outcomes since alpha blockers and 5 alpha reductase inhibitors were introduced in the 1990s. An underappreciated confounder to identifying novel targets is pathological heterogeneity. Individual patients display unique phenotypes, composed of distinct cell types. We have yet to develop a cellular or molecular understanding of these unique phenotypes, which has led to failure in developing targeted therapies for personalized medicine. This review covers the strategic experimental approach to unraveling the cellular pathogenesis of discrete BPH phenotypes and discusses how to incorporate these findings into the clinic to improve outcomes.

Characterization of degradation products of silodosin under stress conditions by liquid chromatography/Fourier transform mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Silodosin (SDN) is a novel α₁ -adrenoceptor antagonist in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The presence of degradation products in a drug affects not only the quality, but also the safety and efficacy of drug formulation. Thus, it is essential to develop an efficient analytical method which could be useful to selectively separate, identify and characterise of all possible degradation products of SDN which is mandatory in drug development processes.

METHODS

SDN was subjected to forced degradation under hydrolytic (acid, base and neutral), oxidative, photolytic and thermal stress conditions. Separation of the drug and degradation products was achieved by a liquid chromatography (LC) method using an Acquity UPLC® BEH C18 (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm; Waters) column with mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid (FA) in water (A) and 0.1% FA in acetonitrile (ACN) and methanol (MeOH) (1:1) (B) as organic modifier at a flow rate of 0.15 mL min^-1 in gradient elution mode. Identification and characterization of the degradation products was performed by mass spectrometry methods using an LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometer.

RESULTS

A total of five degradation products (DP1 to DP5) were formed under various stress conditions and their structures were proposed with the help of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments and high-resolution mass spectral data. A common degradation product (DP1) was observed under acidic and basic degradation conditions. DP2 was observed under acidic, DP4 and DP5 were observed under basic hydrolytic conditions, whereas DP3 was observed under oxidative conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

SDN was found to be labile under hydrolytic and oxidative conditions. The structures of all the degradation products were proposed. The most rational mechanisms for the formation of the degradation products under different stress conditions have been established. The proposed method can be effectively used to carry out the determination and detection of SDN and its degradation products. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The many ways to make a luminal cell and a prostate cancer cell

Research in the area of stem/progenitor cells has led to the identification of multiple stem-like cell populations implicated in prostate homeostasis and cancer initiation. Given that there are multiple cells that can regenerate prostatic tissue and give rise to prostate cancer, our focus should shift to defining the signaling mechanisms that drive differentiation and progenitor self-renewal. In this article, we will review the literature, present the evidence and raise important unanswered questions that will help guide the field forward in dissecting critical mechanisms regulating stem-cell differentiation and tumor initiation.

The role of prostatic inflammation biomarkers in the diagnosis of prostate diseases

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) are chronic conditions, which are hormone-dependent and epidemiologically associated with prostate inflammation. As a large number of studies have demonstrated, the stimulation of T-cells at the level of prostatic chronic inflammatory infiltrates is followed by stromal and epithelial cell proliferation. The aim of this review is to present the actual level of knowledge in the field of prostatic immune response and chronic inflammation, and to analyze the relationships between chronic inflammation and BPH/PCa. The most studied prostatic inflammation biomarkers detected in biological fluids are also presented, together with their potential roles in the diagnosis and prognosis of prostatic disease.

Biological effect of human serum collected before and after oral intake of Pygeum africanum on various benign prostate cell cultures

Pygeum africanum (Tadenan) is a popular phytotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. The active compounds of the drug have not been identified, and determining the plasma concentration of the drug is, therefore, not possible. Because there are conflicting results on the efficacy of this drug, we aimed to investigate its effect on prostate cell growth in vitro using human serum collected before and after Pygeum africanum intake. We used primary and organotypic cultures of human prostatic stromal myofibroblast cell line WPMY and prostatic epithelial cell line PNT2. We also used fresh benign prostatic tissue. The serum of a treated man induced decreases in the proliferation of primary cells, organotypic cells and WPMY cells but not PNT2 cells. We also analysed the effect of treated serum on the gene expression profile of WPMY cells. The transcriptome analysis revealed an upregulation of genes involved in multiple tumour suppression pathways and a downregulation of genes involved in inflammation and oxidative-stress pathways. The oral intake of Pygeum africanum resulted in serum levels of active substances that were sufficient to inhibit the proliferation of cultured myofibroblasts prostatic cells. This inhibition was associated with changes in the transcriptome.

Inhibition of inflammatory gene expression in keratinocytes using a composition containing carnitine, thioctic Acid and saw palmetto extract

Chronic inflammation of the hair follicle (HF) is considered a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Previously, we clinically tested liposterolic extract of Serenoa repens (LSESr) and its glycoside, β-sitosterol, in subjects with AGA and showed a highly positive response to treatment. In this study, we sought to determine whether blockade of inflammation using a composition containing LSESr as well as two anti-inflammatory agents (carnitine and thioctic acid) could alter the expression of molecular markers of inflammation in a well-established in vitro system. Using a well-validated assay representative of HF keratinocytes, specifically, stimulation of cultured human keratinocyte cells in vitro, we measured changes in gene expression of a spectrum of well-known inflammatory markers. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) provided an inflammatory stimulus. In particular, we found that the composition effectively suppressed LPS-activated gene expression of chemokines, including CCL17, CXCL6 and LTB(4) associated with pathways involved in inflammation and apoptosis. Our data support the hypothesis that the test compound exhibits anti-inflammatory characteristics in a well-established in vitro assay representing HF keratinocyte gene expression. These findings suggest that 5-alpha reductase inhibitors combined with blockade of inflammatory processes could represent a novel two-pronged approach in the treatment of AGA with improved efficacy over current modalities.

Silodosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are highly prevalent in older men. Medical therapy is the first-line treatment for LUTS due to BPH. Alpha-adrenergic receptor blockers remain one of the mainstays in the treatment of male LUTS and clinical BPH. They exhibit early onset of efficacy with regard to both symptoms and flow rate improvement, and this is clearly demonstrated in placebo-controlled trials with extensions out to five years. These agents have been shown to prevent symptomatic progression of the disease. The aim of this article is to offer a critical review of the current literature on silodosin, formerly known as KMD-3213, a novel alpha-blocker with unprecedented selectivity for α(1A)-adrenergic receptors, as compared with both α(1B)- and α(1D) -adrenoceptors, exceeding the selectivity of all currently used α(1)-blockers, and with clinically promising effects.

Transforming growth factor β-receptor II protein expression in benign prostatic hyperplasia is associated with prostate volume and inflammation

OBJECTIVE

To assess transforming growth factor β-receptor II (TGFBRII) protein expression in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using immunohistochemistry analysis, and to compare the analysis with phenotypic properties.

METHODS

TGFBRII protein expression was profiled using three clinical outcome tissue microarrays (TMAs), sampled from 231 patients who underwent surgery for BPH. Using these TMAs, five inflammatory cell markers were also assessed, including CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, and CD163. The surgical procedure was open prostatectomy in 95 patients and transurethral resection of the prostate in 136 patients.

RESULTS

TGFBRII protein expression was found in BPH epithelium cells for both basal and secretory cells, as well as in fibromuscular stromal cells. TGFBRII staining was also strong in most of the lymphocytes infiltrating the prostate. TGFBRII stromal staining was found to be significantly associated with prostate volume (P = 0.04), whereas TGFBRII epithelial staining was found to be significantly associated with 5-α-reductase-inhibitor medical therapy received by patients before surgery (P = 0.004). Both stromal and epithelial TGFBRII staining were found to be associated with CD4 T-lymphocyte infiltrate, independently of prostate volume (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

TGFBRII protein expression in BPH is associated with prostate gland volume and with CD4 T-lymphocyte prostatitis. TGFBRII might be a promising therapeutic target to prevent prostate enlargement or even to decrease prostate volume.

Lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and obesity

Obesity has emerged as a global public health challenge. During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. In 2007, only one state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. In this growing epidemic of national concern is an emerging relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and obesity. BPH is the most common neoplastic condition afflicting men and constitutes a major factor impacting the health of the American male. Associations among obesity, physical inactivity, and BPH/LUTS resulting from epidemiological studies have not been explored via clinical trial methodology. A review of the available data appears to support a strong independent relationship between obesity and BPH/LUTS. This review also indicates that gene expression within the prostate varies with prostate size and can be affected by lifestyle modifications. Future studies may lead to office detection of a patient's particular polymorphisms, which may help guide individual treatment and lifestyle modifications that are more likely to succeed.