Identification of intermediate cell types by keratin expression in the developing human prostate
Y Xue, F Smedts, FMJ Debruyne, JJ de la Rosette… - The …, 1998 - Wiley Online Library
Y Xue, F Smedts, FMJ Debruyne, JJ de la Rosette, JA Schalken
The Prostate, 1998•Wiley Online LibraryBACKGROUND The secretory acini of the adult human prostate contain basal, luminal, and
intermediate types of exocrine cells. Intermediate cells are thought to play an important role
in normal growth and neoplastic transformation. In this study we investigated whether this
cell type is present in early stages of prostate development, using keratin antibodies specific
for them. METHODS Autoptic tissue from 11 prepubertal and 5 normal adult prostates was
immunohistochemically stained with four keratin antibodies capable of specifically detecting …
intermediate types of exocrine cells. Intermediate cells are thought to play an important role
in normal growth and neoplastic transformation. In this study we investigated whether this
cell type is present in early stages of prostate development, using keratin antibodies specific
for them. METHODS Autoptic tissue from 11 prepubertal and 5 normal adult prostates was
immunohistochemically stained with four keratin antibodies capable of specifically detecting …
BACKGROUND
The secretory acini of the adult human prostate contain basal, luminal, and intermediate types of exocrine cells. Intermediate cells are thought to play an important role in normal growth and neoplastic transformation. In this study we investigated whether this cell type is present in early stages of prostate development, using keratin antibodies specific for them.
METHODS
Autoptic tissue from 11 prepubertal and 5 normal adult prostates was immunohistochemically stained with four keratin antibodies capable of specifically detecting basal, luminal, or intermediate cell types.
RESULTS
Morphologically, in fetal prostate cells differentiation was often not evident. However, basally located cells usually displayed a basal‐cell keratin‐phenotype. Morphologically similar cells with more luminal localization expressed keratins typical of luminal cells, or of intermediate cells.
CONCLUSIONS
1) In early stages of prostate development, cells with intermediate keratin‐phenotype can be identified. 2) Their large numbers comply with a hierarchical pathway of cellular differentiation from basal to luminal cells. 3) The presence of intermediate cells at such an early fetal age may reflect their regulatory function in prostate development. Prostate 34:292–301, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Wiley Online Library