The Profile of Prostate Epithelial Cytokines and its Impact on Sera Prostate Specific Antigen Levels

Oxidative Stress in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Mechanisms, Clinical Relevance and Therapeutic Perspectives

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is among the most common conditions affecting men as they age, resulting in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that can profoundly impact quality of life. While historically attributed primarily to androgenic imbalances, current evidence implicates additional factors-particularly oxidative stress (OS) and chronic inflammation-in BPH pathogenesis. This review aims to synthesize research on the interplay between OS, inflammation, and hormonal regulation in BPH, emphasizing their clinical relevance and potential therapeutic implications.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted focusing on mechanistic studies, clinical trials, and observational reports. Searches included data on ROS generation, antioxidant capacity, inflammatory mediators, and their contribution to pathological prostatic overgrowth. Potential interventions targeting OS-such as antioxidant supplementation, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin D receptor agonists, and phytotherapeutics-were also evaluated for their efficacy and safety profiles.

RESULTS

Chronic inflammation and OS were consistently identified within hyperplastic prostate tissue. Excessive ROS production, diminished antioxidant defense, and sustained cytokine release create a proproliferative and antiapoptotic environment, accelerating disease progression. Metabolic comorbidities (e.g., obesity, insulin resistance) further exacerbate these imbalances. Standard therapies (α-blockers and 5-ARIs) effectively relieve symptoms but do not directly address the oxidative-inflammatory axis. Emerging evidence suggests that pharmacological and dietary approaches targeting OS and inflammation may reduce prostate volume expansion and alleviate LUTS.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings indicate that OS and inflammation are key contributors to BPH progression. Incorporating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory strategies alongside conventional treatments holds promise for improving clinical outcomes and patient quality of life. Future research should focus on validating OS-specific biomarkers and optimizing personalized therapy regimens.

Ixeris polycephala Extract Alleviates Progression of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia via Modification of Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Inflammation

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a urogenital disorder that is common in aging men. Ixeris polycephala (IP) is used in traditional medicine and contains pharmacologically active compounds. However, the effect for BPH progression has not been elucidated. We herein examined the protective potential of IP extract on a testosterone-induced model of BPH in rats. To generate the BPH model, daily subcutaneous administration of testosterone was applied for 4 weeks. During this period, the rats were also administered a daily oral gavage of IP (150 mg/kg), finasteride (positive control), or vehicle. Testosterone treatment was associated with a significantly higher prostate-to-body weight ratio, serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) level, and prostatic gene expression of 5α-reductase compared to untreated controls. Notably, IP plus testosterone co-treatment was associated with decreased epithelial thickness, down-regulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D1, and upregulation of pro-apoptotic signaling molecules. IP co-treatment also down-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and decreased inflammatory cell infiltration compared to the levels seen in the testosterone-induced BPH. IP appears to protect rats against the progression of testosterone-induced BPH by alleviating prostate cell growth and inflammatory responses, and thus may have potential for clinical use against BPH progression.

Immune Regulation of Seminal Plasma on the Endometrial Microenvironment: Physiological and Pathological Conditions

Seminal plasma (SP) accounts for more than 90% of semen volume. It induces inflammation, regulates immune tolerance, and facilitates embryonic development and implantation in the female reproductive tract. In the physiological state, SP promotes endometrial decidualization and causes changes in immune cells such as macrophages, natural killer cells, regulatory T cells, and dendritic cells. This leads to the secretion of cytokines and chemokines and also results in the alteration of miRNA profiles and the expression of genes related to endometrial tolerance and angiogenesis. Together, these changes modulate the endometrial immune microenvironment and contribute to implantation and pregnancy. However, in pathological situations, abnormal alterations in SP due to advanced age or poor diet in men can interfere with a woman's immune adaptation to pregnancy, negatively affecting embryo implantation and even the health of the offspring. Uterine pathologies such as endometriosis and endometritis can cause the endometrium to respond negatively to SP, which can further contribute to pathological progress and interfere with conception. The research on the mechanism of SP in the endometrium is conducive to the development of new targets for intervention to improve reproductive outcomes and may also provide new ideas for semen-assisted treatment of clinical infertility.

Determination of prostatic fluid citrate concentration using peroxidase-like activity of a peroxotitanium complex

There have been developed many kinds of methods for detecting citrate in body fluids since citrate is very important physiologically and biochemically. In particular, determination of citrate concentration in prostatic or seminal fluid is useful in early diagnosis of prostate cancer. Recently, a peroxotitanium complex prepared from titanium tetrachloride and hydrogen peroxide has been shown to have peroxidase-like activity which is greatly inhibited by some hydroxyalkanoic acids. Hence, we established a method for determining citrate concentration in prostatic fluid using selective inhibition of citrate on the catalytic activity of the peroxotitanium complex.

Eriochloa villosa Alleviates Progression of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in vitro and in vivo

Introduction

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-neoplastic proliferative disease of the prostate. Eriochloa villosa (EV) reportedly possesses various pharmacological activities, including anti-lipase activity and modulation of various antioxidative enzymes. In this study, we investigate the therapeutic potential of EV against BPH in a testosterone-induced BPH rat model.

Methods

Rats were subjected to a daily subcutaneous injection of testosterone (3 mg kg⁻¹) for 4 weeks to induce BPH. Along with testosterone, rats in the treatment group were administered finasteride (10 mg kg⁻¹) or EV (150 mg kg⁻¹) via oral gavage. Prostatic cancer (LNCaP) cell line was used to examine the effect of EV.

Results

Finasteride and EV significantly decrease the relative prostate weight, serum levels of dihydrotestosterone and testosterone, and prostate epithelial thickness. Testosterone injection induced prostatic hyperplasia and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression; however, EV treatment significantly attenuated these effects. Moreover, finasteride- and EV-treated rats exhibit an increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells and reduced Bcl-2 expression in the prostate tissues compared with the testosterone-treated animals. Furthermore, EV suppresses inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, in the prostate tissues. Meanwhile, the expression of inflammatory mediator cyclooxygenase-2 is consistently upregulated in testosterone-treated rats, whereas EV treatment significantly reverses this effect. Notably, EV treatment suppresses malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and upregulates testosterone-induced catalase (CAT) expression. In addition, EV suppresses expression of androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) induced by testosterone in LNCaP cells.

Conclusion

The present study results suggest that EV regulates prostatic proliferation, apoptosis, response to inflammation, and oxidative stress in the BPH rat model, and may, therefore, serve as a useful therapeutic agent for BPH.

Fatty Acid Metabolism Reprogramming in Advanced Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a carcinoma in which fatty acids are abundant. Fatty acid metabolism is rewired during PCa development. Although PCa can be treated with hormone therapy, after prolonged treatment, castration-resistant prostate cancer can develop and can lead to increased mortality. Changes to fatty acid metabolism occur systemically and locally in prostate cancer patients, and understanding these changes may lead to individualized treatments, especially in advanced, castration-resistant prostate cancers. The fatty acid metabolic changes are not merely reflective of oncogenic activity, but in many cases, these represent a critical factor in cancer initiation and development. In this review, we analyzed the literature regarding systemic changes to fatty acid metabolism in PCa patients and how these changes relate to obesity, diet, circulating metabolites, and peri-prostatic adipose tissue. We also analyzed cellular fatty acid metabolism in prostate cancer, including fatty acid uptake, de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid elongation, and oxidation. This review broadens our view of fatty acid switches in PCa and presents potential candidates for PCa treatment and diagnosis.

The Role of Periprostatic Adipose Tissue on Prostate Function in Vascular-Related Disorders

The lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are highly prevalent worldwide. Clinical and experimental data suggest that the incidence of LUTS-BPH is higher in patients with vascular-related disorders such as in pelvic ischemia, obesity and diabetes as well as in the ageing population. Obesity is an important risk factor that predisposes to glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disorders. Prospective studies showed that obese men are more likely to develop LUTS-BPH than non-obese men. Yet, men with greater waist circumferences were also at a greater risk of increased prostate volume and prostate-specific antigen than men with lower waist circumference. BPH is characterized by an enlarged prostate and increased smooth muscle tone, thus causing urinary symptoms. Data from experimental studies showed a significant increase in prostate and epididymal adipose tissue weight of obese mice when compared with lean mice. Adipose tissues that are in direct contact with specific organs have gained attention due to their potential paracrine role. The prostate gland is surrounded by periprostatic adipose tissue (PPAT), which is believed to play a paracrine role by releasing growth factors, pro-inflammatory, pro-oxidant, contractile and anti-contractile substances that interfere in prostate reactivity and growth. Therefore, this review is divided into two main parts, one focusing on the role of adipokines in the context of obesity that can lead to LUTS/BPH and the second part focusing on the mediators released from PPAT and the possible pathways that may interfere in the prostate microenvironment.

A bioengineered organotypic prostate model for the study of tumor microenvironment-induced immune cell activation

The prostate tumor microenvironment (TME) is strongly immunosuppressive; it is largely driven by alteration in cell phenotypes (i.e. tumor-associated macrophages and exhausted cytotoxic T cells) that result in pro-tumorigenic conditions and tumor growth. A greater understanding into how these altered immune cell phenotypes are developed and could potentially be reversed would provide important insights into improved treatment efficacy for prostate cancer. Here, we report a microfluidic model of the prostate TME that mimics prostate ducts across various stages of prostate cancer progression, with associated stroma and immune cells. Using this platform, we exposed immune cells to a benign prostate TME or a metastatic prostate TME and investigated their metabolism, gene and cytokine expression. Immune cells exposed to the metastatic TME showed metabolic differences with a higher redox ratio indicating a switch to a more glycolytic metabolic profile. These cells also increased expression of pro-tumor response cytokines that have been shown to increase cell migration and angiogenesis such as Interleukin-1 (IL-1) a and Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Lastly, we observed decreased TLR, STAT signaling and TRAIL expression, suggesting that phenotypes derived from exposure to the metastatic TME could have an impaired anti-tumor response. This platform could provide a valuable tool for studying immune cell phenotypes in in vitro tumor microenvironments.

SFMBT2-Mediated Infiltration of Preadipocytes and TAMs in Prostate Cancer

Infiltration of diverse cell types into tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in cancer progression including metastasis. We previously reported that SFMBT2 (Scm-like with four mbt domains 2) regulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and migration and invasion of cancer cells in prostate cancer. Here we investigated whether the down-regulation of SFMBT2 regulates the infiltration of preadipocytes and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in prostate cancer. We found that the down-regulation of SFMBT2 promotes the infiltration of preadipocytes and TAMs through up-regulation of CXCL8, CCL2, CXCL10, and CCL20 expression in prostate cancer. Expression of CXCL8, CCL2, CXCL10, and CCL20 was also elevated in prostate cancer patients having a higher Gleason score (≥8), which had substantially lower SFMBT2 expression. We also found that the up-regulation of CXCL8, CCL2, CXCL10, and CCL20 expression is dependent on NF-κB activation in prostate cancer cells expressing a low level of SFMBT2. Moreover, increased IL-6 from infiltrated preadipocytes and TAMs promoted migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells expressing a low level of SFMBT2. Our study may suggest that SFMBT2 a critical regulator for the infiltration of preadipocytes and TAMs into the prostate tumor microenvironment. Thus, the regulation of SFMBT2 may provide a new therapeutic strategy to inhibit prostate cancer metastasis, and SFMBT2 could be used as a potential biomarker in prostate cancer metastasis.

Omega-3 fatty acids decrease prostate cancer progression associated with an anti-tumor immune response in eugonadal and castrated mice

BACKGROUND

Several lines of evidence suggest effects of dietary fat on prostate cancer (PCa) development and progression. Targeting omega (ω)-3:ω6 fatty acids (FA) ratio could be beneficial against PCa by favorably modulating inflammation. Here, we studied the effects of ω3- and ω6-enriched diets on prostate tumor growth and inflammatory response in androgen-deprived and non-deprived conditions.

METHODS

Immune-competent eugonadal and castrated C57BL/6 mice were injected with TRAMP-C2 prostate tumor cells and daily fed with ω3- or ω6-enriched diet. FA and cytokine profiles were measured in blood and tumors using gas chromatography and multiplex immunoassay, respectively. Immune cell infiltration in tumors was profiled by multicolor flow cytometry.

RESULTS

ω3-enriched diet decreased prostate TRAMP-C2 tumor growth in immune-competent eugonadal and castrated mice. Cytokines associated with Th1 immune response (IL-12 [p70], IFN-γ, GM-CSF) and eosinophil recruitment (eotaxin-1, IL-5, and IL-13) were significantly elevated in tumors of ω3-fed mice. Using in vitro experiments, we confirmed ω3 FA-induced eotaxin-1 secretion by tumor cells and that eotaxin-1 secretion was regulated by androgens. Analysis of immune cell infiltrating tumors showed no major difference of immune cells' abundance between ω3- and ω6-enriched diets.

CONCLUSIONS

ω3-enriched diet reduces prostate tumor growth independently of androgen levels. ω3 FA can inhibit tumor cell growth and induce a local anti-tumor inflammatory response. These findings warrant further examination of dietary ω3's potential to slow down the progression of androgen-sensitive and castrate-resistant PCa by modulating immune cell function in tumors.

Upregulated Interleukin 21 Receptor Enhances Proliferation and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Process in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Background: Interleukins (ILs) and related chronic inflammation have been found to contribute to the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in recent decades. As a late member of the ILs family, IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) can modulate cell proliferation, however, IL-21R activity in the prostate has not been examined. The current study aimed to elucidate a potential role of IL-21R in the development of BPH. Material and Methods: Human prostate tissues, cell lines and rats were used. QRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry, along with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and immunofluorescent staining were performed. BPH-1 cells with IL-21R silenced were cultured or co-cultured with macrophages (active THP-1, AcTHP-1). Apoptosis and cell cycle phases were determined via flow cytometry. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes were also examined. In vivo, rat prostatitis was induced with intraprostatic injected lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results: IL-21R was highly expressed in human as well as rat prostate, mainly in the epithelial compartment. BPH concomitant with prostatitis significantly upregulated the expression of IL-21R. Knockdown of IL-21R induced cell apoptosis and cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase, and blocked the EMT process in BPH-1 cells. When IL-21R silenced BPH-1 cells were co-cultured with AcTHP-1 cells, these aforementioned processes and IL-21R change were completely reversed. Prostatic hyperplasia was observed with IL-21R upregulated in LPS induced prostatitis rats. More specifically, the expression of apoptosis, cyclin, and EMT proteins in this rat model are altered in a manner consistent with that seen in the cell line model. Conclusions: Our novel data demonstrates the expression and functional activities of IL-21R in the mechanism for development of BPH. IL-21R mainly localized in prostate epithelium and it was upregulated in hyperplastic prostate tissues. IL-21R enhanced proliferation of BPH-1 cells, via inhibiting cell apoptosis, and modulating cell cycles, as well as the EMT process, in response to inflammatory stimuli.

Effects of concentrated long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation before radical prostatectomy on prostate cancer proliferation, inflammation, and quality of life: study protocol for a phase IIb, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in north-American men. Few dietary or lifestyle interventions have been tested to prevent prostate cancer progression. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation represents a promising intervention for prostate cancer patients. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn3), more precisely eicosapentaenoic acid monoacylglyceride (MAG-EPA) supplementation, on prostate cancer proliferation, inflammation mediators and quality of life among men who will undergo radical prostatectomy.

METHODS/DESIGN

We propose a phase IIb, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of MAG-EPA supplementation for 130 men who will undergo radical prostatectomy as treatment for a prostate cancer of Gleason score ≥ 7 in an academic cancer center in Quebec City. Participants will be randomized to 6 capsules of 625 mg of fish oil (MAG-EPA) per capsule containing 500 mg of EPA daily or to identically looking capsules of high oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSO) as placebo. The intervention begins 4 to 10 weeks prior to radical prostatectomy (baseline) and continues for one year after surgery. The primary endpoint is the proliferative index (Ki-67) measured in prostate cancer cells at radical prostatectomy. A secondary endpoint includes prostate tissue levels of inflammatory mediators (cytokines and proteins) at time of radical prostatectomy. Changes in blood levels of inflammatory mediators, relative to baseline levels, at time of radical prostatectomy and 12 months after radical prostatectomy will also be evaluated. Secondary endpoints also include important aspects of psychosocial functioning and quality of life such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, fatigue, cognitive complaints and prostate cancer-specific quality of life domains. The changes in these outcomes, relative to baseline levels, will be evaluated at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after radical prostatectomy.

DISCUSSION

The results from this trial will provide crucial information to clarify the role of omega-3 supplementation on prostate cancer proliferation, inflammation and quality of life.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02333435. Registered on December 17, 2014. Last updated September 6, 2016.

High miR-205 expression in normal epithelium is associated with biochemical failure - an argument for epithelial crosstalk in prostate cancer?

Due to insufficient prognostic tools, failure to predict aggressive prostate cancer (PC) has left patient selection for radical treatment an unsolved challenge. This has resulted in overtreatment with radical therapy. Better prognostic tools are urgently warranted. MicroRNAs (miRs) have emerged as important regulators of cellular pathways, resulting in altered gene expressions. miR-205 has previously been observed downregulated in PC, acting as tumor suppressor. Herein, the expression of miR-205 in prostate tissue was examined in a large, well-described cohort of 535 Norwegian prostatectomy patients. Using in situ hybridization, miR-205 expression was semiquantatively measured in normal and tumor tissues from radical prostatectomy specimens. Associations with clinicopathological data and PC relapse were calculated. Expression of miR-205 was lower in tumor epithelium compared to normal epithelium. No association was observed between miR-205 expression in primary tumor epithelium and cancer relapse. In contrast, high expression of miR-205 in normal epithelium was independently associated with biochemical relapse (HR = 1.64, p = 0.003). A prognostic importance of miR-205 expression was only found in the normal epithelium, raising the hypothesis of epithelial crosstalk between normal and tumor epithelium in PC. This finding supports the proposed novel hypothesis of an anti-cancerogenous function of normal epithelium in tumor tissue.

P. acnes-Driven Disease Pathology: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

This review discusses the biology and behavior of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), a dominant bacterium species of the skin biogeography thought to be associated with transmission, recurrence and severity of disease. More specifically, we discuss the ability of P. acnes to invade and persist in epithelial cells and circulating macrophages to subsequently induce bouts of sarcoidosis, low-grade inflammation and metastatic cell growth in the prostate gland. Finally, we discuss the possibility of P. acnes infiltrating the brain parenchyma to indirectly contribute to pathogenic processes in neurodegenerative disorders such as those observed in Parkinson's disease (PD).

A Network Biology Approach Identifies Molecular Cross-Talk between Normal Prostate Epithelial and Prostate Carcinoma Cells

The advent of functional genomics has enabled the genome-wide characterization of the molecular state of cells and tissues, virtually at every level of biological organization. The difficulty in organizing and mining this unprecedented amount of information has stimulated the development of computational methods designed to infer the underlying structure of regulatory networks from observational data. These important developments had a profound impact in biological sciences since they triggered the development of a novel data-driven investigative approach. In cancer research, this strategy has been particularly successful. It has contributed to the identification of novel biomarkers, to a better characterization of disease heterogeneity and to a more in depth understanding of cancer pathophysiology. However, so far these approaches have not explicitly addressed the challenge of identifying networks representing the interaction of different cell types in a complex tissue. Since these interactions represent an essential part of the biology of both diseased and healthy tissues, it is of paramount importance that this challenge is addressed. Here we report the definition of a network reverse engineering strategy designed to infer directional signals linking adjacent cell types within a complex tissue. The application of this inference strategy to prostate cancer genome-wide expression profiling data validated the approach and revealed that normal epithelial cells exert an anti-tumour activity on prostate carcinoma cells. Moreover, by using a Bayesian hierarchical model integrating genetics and gene expression data and combining this with survival analysis, we show that the expression of putative cell communication genes related to focal adhesion and secretion is affected by epistatic gene copy number variation and it is predictive of patient survival. Ultimately, this study represents a generalizable approach to the challenge of deciphering cell communication networks in a wide spectrum of biological systems.

In the current era of cancer research, stimulated by the release of the entire human genome, it has become increasingly clear that to understand cancer we need to understand how the many thousands of genes and proteins involved interact. Modern techniques have enabled the collection of unprecedented amounts of high quality data describing the state of these molecules during cancer development. In cancer research particularly, this strategy has been particularly successful, leading to the discovery of new drugs able to target key factors promoting cancer growth. However, a large body of research suggests that in complex organs, the interaction between cancer and its surrounding environment is an essential part of the biology of both diseased and healthy tissues, therefore it is of paramount importance that this process is further investigated. Here we report a strategy designed to reveal communication signals between cancer cells and adjacent cell types. We apply the strategy to prostate cancer and find that normal cells surrounding the tumour do exert an anti-tumour activity on prostate cancer cells. By using a statistical model which integrates multiple levels of genetic data, we show that cell-to-cell communication genes are controlled by DNA alterations and have potential prognostic value.

Differentially Expressed Genes and Signature Pathways of Human Prostate Cancer

Genomic technologies including microarrays and next-generation sequencing have enabled the generation of molecular signatures of prostate cancer. Lists of differentially expressed genes between malignant and non-malignant states are thought to be fertile sources of putative prostate cancer biomarkers. However such lists of differentially expressed genes can be highly variable for multiple reasons. As such, looking at differential expression in the context of gene sets and pathways has been more robust. Using next-generation genome sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, differential gene expression between age- and stage- matched human prostate tumors and non-malignant samples was assessed and used to craft a pathway signature of prostate cancer. Up- and down-regulated genes were assigned to pathways composed of curated groups of related genes from multiple databases. The significance of these pathways was then evaluated according to the number of differentially expressed genes found in the pathway and their position within the pathway using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and Signaling Pathway Impact Analysis. The “transforming growth factor-beta signaling” and “Ran regulation of mitotic spindle formation” pathways were strongly associated with prostate cancer. Several other significant pathways confirm reported findings from microarray data that suggest actin cytoskeleton regulation, cell cycle, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, and calcium signaling are also altered in prostate cancer. Thus we have demonstrated feasibility of pathway analysis and identified an underexplored area (Ran) for investigation in prostate cancer pathogenesis.

PSMA/PSA ratio evaluated by immunohistochemistry may improve diagnosis of prostate cancer

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) measured in serum are not fully satisfactory as biomarkers of prostate cancer (PC). Results obtained in this article indicated that PSMA/PSA ratio evaluated by immunohistochemistry in normal prostate (NP), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and PC at the individual level could be a useful tool for diagnosis and prognosis of PC. PSMA and PSA were equally expressed in NP and the PSMA/PSA ratio was 1.22 ± 0.15. Data also indicated that PSMA/PSA ratio fluctuates in BPH and PC compared to NP. In BPH, the PSMA/PSA ratio was around 0.47 ± 0.02, whereas it's significantly increased in PC, about 4.95 ± 0.83. In parallel, the highest PSMA/PSA ratio was associated with high intratumoral angiogenesis in PC patients with (PSMA+,PSA+) profile.

Involvement of interleukin-1β mediated nuclear factor κB signalling pathways to down-regulate prostate-specific antigen and cell proliferation in LNCaP prostate cancer cells

Involvement of NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) mediated by IL-1β (interleukin-1β) on cell proliferation and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) production of LNCaP prostate cell lines and the possible cross-talk with Akt (also known as protein kinase B) signalling pathway has been investigated. NF-κB and Akt were analysed by Western blotting from LNCaP cells treated by IL-1β before proliferation and PSA production were measured. IL-1β inhibited proliferation and decreased PSA production. The Akt pathway was not sensitive, whereas NF-κB phosphorylation occurred as a result of treatment. PSA production and proliferation of LNCaP cells were down-regulated by NF-κB mediated by IL-1β promoting anti-apoptotic signalling and co-suppressor factors of PSA expression. IL-1β through NF-κB activation provides a rationale for therapeutic approaches in the anticancer treatment of prostate.

Early diagnosis of prostate cancer by citrate determination in urine with europium-oxytetracycline complex

Normal prostate tissue contains high levels of citrate. In the presence of prostate cancer, the citrate level is diminished. In this paper we show that it is possible to use europium-oxytetracycline complex as a citrate fluorescent probe and consequently as a prostate cancer probe. We analyzed normal nude male mice urine and urine from nude male mice in which prostate cancer was induced by intraprostatic inoculation of DU145 cells. The urine samples were collected from the animals at the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 35th days after the surgery procedures. The intensity of europium emission at 615 nm in europium-oxytetracycline complex in the presence of citrate increases linearly. The citrate concentrations were determined from a calculated calibration curve. A concentration decrease in malignant prostate urine from the normal (PBS group) urine value from ~8.0 mM to ~2.4 mM (tumor group at 35th day) was found. The obtained results indicated that europium-oxytetracycline provides a significant biomarker for prostate cancer detection with a direct, accurate, noninvasive, and non-enzymatic method for measurement of citrate in biological fluids.

Seminal plasma proteins: what role do they play?

PROBLEM

Semen is a heterogeneous and complex cell suspension in a protein-rich fluid with different functions, some of them well known, others still obscure.

METHOD OF STUDY

This paper reviews, comparatively, our current knowledge on the growing field of proteomics of the SP and its relevance in relation to the in vivo situation, for the sake of reproductive biology, diagnostics and treatment.

RESULTS

Ejaculated spermatozoa, primarily bathing in cauda epididymal fluid, are (in vitro) bulky, exposed to most, if not all, secretions from the accessory sexual glands. In vivo, however, not all spermatozoa are necessarily exposed to all secretions from these glands, because sperm cohorts are delivered in differential order and bathe in seminal plasma (SP) with different concentrations of constituents, including peptides and proteins. Proteins are relevant for sperm function and relate to sperm interactions with the various environments along the female genital tract towards the oocyte vestments. Specific peptides and proteins act as signals for the female immune system to modulate sperm rejection or tolerance, perhaps even influencing the relative intrinsic fertility of the male and/or couple by attaining a status of maternal tolerance towards embryo and placental development.

CONCLUSIONS

Proteins of the seminal plasma have an ample panorama of action, and some appear responsible for establishing fertility.

Profile of NF-κBp(65/NFκBp50) among prostate specific antigen sera levels in prostatic pathologies

AIM

The aim of this work was to characterise the immunoexpression of NF-κB (p50/p65) in human prostatic pathologies and to study its profiles of activation among sera prostate specific antigen antigen (PSA) according the three groups: 0-4ng/mL, 4-20ng/mL and >20ng/mL.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-four men with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH); 19 men with prostate cancer (PC) and five men with normal prostates (NP). Immunohistochemical and western blot analysis was performed. Serum levels of PSA were assayed by immulite autoanalyser.

RESULTS

In BPH and PC samples, immunoexpressions were observed for NF-κBp65 and NF-κBp50; while in NP samples, only were detected NF-κBp50. PC samples showed immunoreactions to NF-κBp65 and NF-κBp50 more intense (respectively 24.18±0.67 and 28.23±2.01) than that observed in BPH samples (respectively18.46±2.04 and 18.66±1.59) with special localisation in the nucleus. Different profiles of NF-κBp65 immunoexpressions were observed and BPH patients with sera PSA levels between 0-4ng/mL presented a significant weak percentage compared to BPH patients with sera PSA levels between 4-20ng/mL and >20ng/mL. No immunoreactions to NF-κBp65 were observed in PC patients with sera PSA levels between 4-20ng/mL.

CONCLUSION

The sensibility of both NF-κB and PSA to inflammation allowed confirming the relationship between these two molecules and its involvement in prostatic diseases progression (inflammatory and neoplasic).

Role of interleukins, IGF and stem cells in BPH

The condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia may be defined as a benign enlargement of the prostate gland resulting from a proliferation of both benign epithelial and stromal elements. It might also be defined clinically as a constellation of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) in aging men. The purpose of this review is to consider the ways in which inflammatory cytokines belonging to the interleukin family, members of the IFG family, and stem cells may contribute to the development and progression of BPH-LUTS. This might occur in three mechanisms: One, interleukin signaling, IFG signaling and stem cells may contribute to reactivation of developmental growth mechanisms in the adult prostate leading to tissue growth. Two, given that epidemiologic studies indicate an increased incidence of BPH-LUTS in association with obesity and diabetes, IFG signaling may provide the mechanistic basis for the effect of diabetes and obesity on prostate growth. Three, expression of interleukins in association with inflammation in the prostate may induce sensitization of afferent fibers innervating the prostate and result in increased sensitivity to pain and noxious sensations in the prostate and bladder and heightened sensitivity to bladder filling.

GC/MS-based metabolomic approach to validate the role of urinary sarcosine and target biomarkers for human prostate cancer by microwave-assisted derivatization

A recent study showed that sarcosine may be potentially useful for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of this study was to validate diagnostic value of sarcosine for PCa, to evaluate urine metabolomic profiles in patients with PCa in comparison of non-cancerous control, and to further explore the other potential metabolic biomarkers for PCa. Isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (ID GC/MS) metabolomic approach was applied to evaluate sarcosine using [methyl-D(3)]-sarcosine as an internal standard. Microwave-assisted derivatization (MAD) together with GC/MS was utilized to obtain the urinary metabolomic information in 20 PCa patients compared with eight patients with benign prostate hypertrophy and 20 healthy men. Acquired metabolomic data were analyzed using a two-sample t test. Diagnostic models for PCa were constructed using principal component analysis and were assessed with receiver-operating characteristic curves. Results showed that the urinary sarcosine level has no statistical difference between the PCa group and the control group. In addition, nine metabolomic markers between the PCa group and the healthy male group were selected, which constructed a diagnostic model with a high area under the curve value of 0.9425. We conclude that although urinary sarcosine value has limited potential in the diagnostic algorithm of PCa, urinary metabolomic panel based on GC/MS assay following MAD may potentially become a diagnostic tool for PCa.

The cannabinoid R+ methanandamide induces IL-6 secretion by prostate cancer PC3 cells

In the present study, we have investigated the effect of the cannabinoid R+ methanandamide (MET) in the androgen-resistant prostate cancer PC3 cells. MET induced a dose-dependent decrease in PC3 cell viability as well as a dose-dependent increase in the secretion of the cytokine IL-6. Looking deeper into the mechanisms involved, we found that MET-induced de novo synthesis of the lipid mediator ceramide that was blocked by the ceramide synthase inhibitor Fumonisin B1. Pre-incubation of cells with the cannabinoid receptor CB2 antagonist SR 144528 (SR2), but not the CB1 antagonist Rimonabant or the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine, partially prevented the anti-proliferative effect, the ceramide accumulation, and the IL-6-induced secretion, suggesting a CB2 receptor-dependent mechanism. Fumonisin B1 did not have any effect in the IL-6 secretion increase induced by MET. However, even an incomplete down-regulation of (i.e., not a total silencing of) ceramide kinase expression by specific siRNA prevented the MET-induced IL-6 secretion. These results suggest that MET regulates ceramide metabolism in prostate PC3 cells which is involved in cell death as well as in IL-6 secretion. Our findings also suggest that CB2 agonists may offer a novel approach in the treatment of prostate cancer by decreasing cancer epithelial cell proliferation. However, the interaction of prostate cancer cells with their surrounding, and in particular with the immune system in vivo, needs to be further explored.