Neli Petkova, Jorg Hennenlotter, Malgorzata Sobiesiak, Tilman Todenhofer, Marcus Scharpf, Arnulf Stenzl, Hans-Jorg Buhring, and Christian Schwentner
Institution
Uni Hospital Tuebingen
Country
Germany
Year
2013
Journal
The Prostate
Abstract
BACKGROUND. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) are common
abnormalities in elderly men. It is considered that epithelial stem cells are involved in the
etiology and development of both diseases. To distinguish aberrant from normal cells, the
knowledge about primary epithelial stem/progenitor cells (ES/P) is essential. The aim of this
study was to examine the role of surface markers to distinguish between different subsets of
prostate basal epithelium.
METHODS. The expression pattern of prostate tissue single cell suspensions was analyzed
by flow cytometry using different markers. Sorted cell populations were examined for their
clonogenic capacity and the resulted colonies were analyzed with flow cytometry, Western
blot, and qPCR for stem cell, basal, and luminal epithelium markers. Additionally, the
histological localization of the examined markers was determined using immunofluorescence.
RESULTS. Using the combination of CD49f, Trop-2, and surface CD24, basal cell subsets with
distinct differentiation capacities were dissected (CD49fþTrop-2þCD24 and CD49fþTrop-
2þCD24þ). Although cells from the two subsets gave rise to similar basal colonies, qPCR of
primary tissue revealed that higher levels of basal marker expression were detected in the
CD49fþTrop-2þCD24 subset. Immunofluorescence analysis showed a prominent expression
of CD24 by luminal and basal cells.
CONCLUSIONS. Subsets with distinct differentiation capacities within the basal epithelium
(CD49fþTrop-2þCD24 and CD49fþTrop-2þCD24þ) can be distinguished in human prostate.
CD24 is a marker expressed on the basal transit-amplifying cells (transition cells) and may
play a role in the differentiation and migration of ES/P cells to the luminal layer. The
knowledge of this mechanism is of relevance for treatment of both diseases. Prostate # 2013
Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
KEY WORDS: prostate stem cells; benign prostatic hyperplasia; CD24; prostate transitamplifying
cells; prostate differentiation