Rat prostatic growth factors: purification and characterization of high and low molecular weight epidermal growth factors from rat dorsolateral prostate

Effects of aging on growth factors gene and protein expression in the dorsal and ventral lobes of rat prostate

We hypothesize that various growth factors and their receptors gene and protein are modulated in dorsal and ventral lobes of aging prostate. To test this hypothesis, TGFbeta1, TGFbeta2 TGFbeta3, TGFbetaR-I, TGFbetaR-II, TGFalpha, EGF, EGFR, KGF and KGFR gene and protein expression were analyzed in dorsal and ventral lobes of aging rat prostates (1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 28/30 months). KGF gene expression was very weak or absent in 1, 3, and 6 month old rat dorsal and ventral lobes of prostate whereas it re-expressed in 9, 12, 18, 24 and 30 month old rat prostate. All growth factors and their receptors expect KGF and EGFR were mainly localized in epithelium of ventral and dorsal lobes of aging rat prostates. EGF, TGFalpha, TGFbeta1, and TGFbetaR-I protein expression was lacking in stroma of dorsal and ventral lobes of 1, 3, 6, 9, 12/18 months old rat prostates. However, EGF, TGFbeta1 and TGFbetaR-I proteins re-expressed in stroma of 24 and 28 months old rat prostates. KGF protein expression was lacking in epithelium of dorsal and ventral lobes of all aging rat prostates. This is the first report to demonstrate differential gene and protein expression of growth factors in dorsal and ventral lobes is associated with aging rat prostate, suggesting their role in pathogenesis of prostatic diseases with aging.

Collagen-binding growth factors: production and characterization of functional fusion proteins having a collagen-binding domain

The autocrine/paracrine peptide signaling molecules such as growth factors have many promising biologic activities for clinical applications. However, one cannot expect specific therapeutic effects of the factors administered by ordinary drug delivery systems as they have limited target specificity and short half-lives in vivo. To overcome the difficulties in using growth factors as therapeutic agents, we have produced fusion proteins consisting of growth factor moieties and a collagen-binding domain (CBD) derived from Clostridium histolyticum collagenase. The fusion proteins carrying the epidermal growth factor (EGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) at the N terminal of CBD (CBEGF/CBFGF) tightly bound to insoluble collagen and stimulated the growth of BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts as much as the unfused counterparts. CBEGF, when injected subcutaneously into nude mice, remained at the sites of injection for up to 10 days, whereas EGF was not detectable 24 h after injection. Although CBEGF did not exert a growth-promoting effect in vivo, CBFGF, but not bFGF, strongly stimulated the DNA synthesis in stromal cells at 5 days and 7 days after injection. These results indicate that CBD may be used as an anchoring unit to produce fusion proteins nondiffusible and long-lasting in vivo.

Epidermal growth factor in the rat prostate: production, tissue content and molecular forms in the different prostatic lobes

BACKGROUND

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces proliferation in prostate epithelial and stromal cells in primary culture. This investigation was set up to characterize the time and spatial expression of EGF in the rat prostate.

METHODS

The expression of EGF was characterized in the distinct lobes of the rat prostate by means of ELISA, gel filtration, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization.

RESULTS

Local synthesis of EGF by the luminal epithelium was demonstrated by in situ hybridization in the dorsal lobe only. This lobe contained the major part of the prostatic EGF with a sixfold higher concentration than measured in the lateral lobe, and 300-fold higher than in the ventral lobe. Rat prostatic EGF was found to consist of at least two high-molecular-weight forms, as well as a 6-kDa form. The high-molecular-weight forms made up approximately 40% of the EGF measured in the dorsal rat prostate. At 8-12 weeks of age, the concentration of EGF in the dorsal lobe was doubled, with no further increase up to 16 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

We report a 300-fold difference in the lobar content of EGF in the rat prostate, and a doubling of the concentration at 8-12 weeks of age.

Systemic administration of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) causes growth of the rat prostate

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the rat prostate. In addition, we investigated the effect of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibition with alpha-diflouromethylornitine (DFMO) on the expected growth of the prostate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eight week old Wistar rats were allocated into groups of eight, receiving systemic treatment for 3 and 7 days with either IGF-I (400 micrograms/rat/day) or EGF (30 micrograms/rat/day) alone or in combination with DFMO.

RESULTS

Systemic treatment with IGF-I for 7 days resulted in a 29% (p < 0.01) increase in the mean wet weight of the ventral prostate. The mean weight of the dorsolateral lobe of the prostate increased by 39% (p < 0.05), and the seminal vesicle and coagulating gland increased 69% (p < 0.05) compared to controls. The ODC-activity in the prostate was significantly increased by IGF-I after 3 days of treatment, and administration of IGF-I concomitantly with DFMO significantly inhibited ODC activity and the weight increase of the prostate. Stereological examination of the prostate in the IGF-I-treated animals showed growth of the epithelial component of the gland. Systemic treatment with EGF did not affect the mean weight of the prostate or the seminal vesicle compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate that treatment with IGF-I but not EGF for 7 days induces profound growth of the rat prostate and the seminal vesicle, and that the growth is dependent on an intact ODC-activity.

Comparative studies of the mitogenic effects of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha and the expression of various growth factors in neoplastic and non-neoplastic prostatic cell lines

BACKGROUND

The role of growth factors in prostate cell growth has been investigated as these peptides may be involved in the autonomous growth of hormone-independent prostate cancer.

METHODS

Responses of neoplastic (PC-3 and CPA) and non-neoplastic (CAPE) prostatic cell lines to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) were determined using clonogenic and growth curve analysis. The constitutive expression of EGF, TGF-alpha, and TGF-beta 1-3 mRNA was examined using Northern blotting and EGF and TGF-alpha protein levels were determined immunohistochemically.

RESULTS

Growth curve and clonogenic analysis indicated that EGF and TGF-alpha were mitogenic in each cell line. The magnitude of the clonogenic response varied between the cell lines, with CPA cells showing the greatest growth increases. CPA cells also displayed the highest levels of EGF and TGF-alpha mRNA and protein. TGF-beta 1 mRNA was detected in the order of magnitude, PC-3 > CPA > CAPE. Furthermore, PC-3 and CPA cells expressed TGF-beta 3 and TGF-beta 2 transcripts respectively. In each cell line, the expression of any growth factor mRNA was not affected by exogenous EGF.

CONCLUSIONS

The growth responses of the cell lines to EGF and TGF-alpha did not correlate with their constitutive levels of EGF and TGF-alpha mRNA and protein, thus whilst growth factors may be important in malignant cell growth, other pathways may also be involved in the autocrine regulation of cell proliferation.

Epidermal growth factor-related peptides and the epidermal growth factor receptor in normal and malignant prostate

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) are two closely related peptides that interact with cell-surface epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) to induce receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of intracellular signal-transduction pathways. EGF appears to be the predominant EGF-related growth factor in the normal prostate and in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Evidence indicates that EGF and TGF alpha are important for maintainence of the structural and functional integrity of the benign prostatic epithelium. The EGF-related peptides are primarily localized to the secretory epithelium of the benign prostate, and their production and secretion is augmented by the presence of circulating androgens. EGFR are located in the basal/neuroendocrine (NE) compartment of the benign prostate and exhibit relatively androgen-independent expression. The EGF-related peptides and EGFR are also present in neoplastic prostatic tissues. There is currently no direct evidence to implicate EGFR activation in the pathogenesis of BPH. However, the EGF-related peptides appear to play a functional role in the growth of prostatic carcinoma cells, with TGF alpha being the predominant growth factor. Numerous investigators have demonstrated the functional significance of a TGF alpha/EGFR-mediated autocrine growth pathway in cultured prostatic carcinoma cells. Studies of cultured prostate cancer cells, but not normal epithelial cells, demonstrate constitutive activation of EGFR. Androgen-independent cancer cells exhibit more EGFR expression and phosphorylation than do androgen-responsive prostate cancer cells. Most studies indicate that EGFR do not play a functional role in androgen-stimulated growth of prostate cancer cells. Several studies have correlated EGFR expression with increased nuclear size and tumor dedifferentiation. Future studies should focus on determining both the prognostic significance of EGFR expression and whether manipulation of EGFR-mediated growth can be exploited for therapeutic benefit in human prostate cancer.

Effects of hormones on the prostate in adult and aging men and animals

Literature on the effect of steroid hormones (androgens, estrogens, and other steroids), of peptide hormones (e.g., prolactin), and growth factors (e.g., EGF, FGF, TGF-beta), on the effect of castration and of experimental hormone application on the prostate is reviewed. Androgens have inductive, repressive, and interactive effects. They counterbalance an agonistic effect on proliferation and an antagonistic effect on cell death; they may influence DNA synthesis and induce the synthesis of substances with mitogenic effects on the prostate. Estrogens exert direct and indirect effects on the prostate. They suppress the secretion of gonatropins, thus repressing testicular androgen secretion. They stimulate the fibromuscular stroma and induce squamous metaplasia of the epithelium. Estrogens may also be involved in the onset of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prolactin is preferentially bound in the diseased human prostate. An abundance of information has been gained on EGF, FGF, TGF-beta, and other growth factors. They may be involved in the development of prostatic hyperplasia. Castration leads to a striking reduction in prostatic size in a short period of time due to autophagic and heterophagic processes. In castrated individuals, the prostate is enriched in androgen-independent cells. Experimental hormone application involves the substitution of androgens as well as anti-androgens, long-term application of different hormones, and application of combinations of drugs. The results of several studies are described. Further directions in the field of prostate research should concentrate on the role of growth factors in prostate development and pathology and on the effect of certain lectins on prostate diseases. We think that the investigation of interactions between steroid hormones and growth factors in normal and pathological neovascularization of the prostate is important.

EGF receptor in neoplasia and metastasis

EGFR is a member of the tyrosine kinase family of cell surface receptors with a wide range of expression throughout development and in a variety of different cell types. The receptor can transmit signals to cells: i) upon interaction with ligands such as EGF, TGF alpha, amphiregulin or heparin binding EGF, ii) upon truncation or mutation of extracellular and/or intracellular domains, iii) upon amplification of a basal receptor activity (in the absence of ligand) through cooperation with other cellular signaling pathways or nuclear events (e.g. expression of v-erbA). The activated EGFR can exert pleiotropic functions on cells, depending on their tissue origin and state of differentiation. Under certain conditions it can also contribute to neoplasia and development of metastases. Such conditions can exist upon aberrant receptor/ligand expression and activation (e.g. in the wrong cell; at the wrong time; in the wrong amounts). Aberrant signalling can also occur through constitutive EGFR activation. Oncogenic potential of EGFR has been demonstrated in a wide range of experimental animals. EGFR is also implicated in human cancer, where it may contribute both to the initiation (glioblastoma) and progression (epithelial tumors) of the disease. EGFR may influence key steps in the processes of tumor invasion and dissemination. Involvement of EGFR in tumor spread may indicate a potential use of this receptor as a target for antimetastatic therapy.

An anti-probasin monoclonal antibody recognizes a novel 40-kDa protein localized in rat liver and a specific region of kidney urinary tubule

Immunoblotting with a monoclonal antibody against probasin (rat prostatic secretory protein) showed that a 40-kDa protein antigenically related to probasin was localized in rat liver and kidney. The contents of probasin in these organs were negligible. Immunostaining revealed that the 40-kDa protein (probasin-related antigen: PRB-RA) was expressed in the liver parenchymal cells and the kidney urinary tubular epithelial cells in outer stripe. The content of PRB-RA in the kidney was low during 0 to 2 weeks of age, then rapidly increased about 10-fold from 2 to 8 weeks of age. The content in the liver increased about 2-fold during the period, reaching a value of 10-12 ng/micrograms protein, which was ten times higher than that in the kidney. PRB-RA was purified from rat liver by ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration and fast protein liquid chromatography on a hydroxyapatite column. The purified protein formed insoluble aggregates in the absence of a detergent, and it had a blocked amino terminal. The amino acid sequence of a peptide generated by tryptic digestion of alkylated PRB-RA was determined. Computer analysis showed that there was no protein having a significant homology with the peptide. These results indicate that a novel 40-kDa protein with a structural similarity to probasin is localized in rat liver and kidney, and might bear a function specific to these organs.