Differential effect of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) on aromatase activity in cultured canine prostatic epithelial cells

Development-related expression of KGF and FGF-10 mRNA in the canine prostate gland

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF-10) are stromal-derived growth factors that interact with their epithelial FGFR2 receptors to mediate stromal--epithelial cell interaction within the prostate gland. This study was conducted to compare the development-related mRNA expression of KGF, FGF-10 and their receptor FGFR2 in immature and mature canine prostate glands. In addition, their expression levels were correlated with the differentiation of stromal cells using vimentin as a mesenchymal cell marker. Quantitative mRNA expression was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the results were expressed as relative mRNA expression of the target gene, which was normalized to the GAPDH reference gene. mRNA analysis revealed a differential expression of KGF, FGF-10 and FGFR2 receptor by the prostate glands of immature and mature dogs. The results showed a 7.3- and 9-fold decrease in mRNA expression of KGF and FGF-10 by mature and immature prostate glands respectively. However, there was no significant change in FGFR2 receptor mRNA expression by mature or immature prostate glands. This downregulation of KGF and FGF-10 expression was associated with a 15-fold decrease in vimentin expression. These results indicate that KGF and FGF-10 expression varied according to the differentiation status of stromal cells and might reflect differential developmental requirements of immature and mature canine prostate glands.

Effect of keratinocyte growth factor on cell viability in primary cultured human prostate cancer stromal cells

In normal prostate, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), also known as fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7) serves as a paracrine growth factor synthesized in stromal cells that acts on epithelial cells through its receptor, KGFR. KGF and KGFR were found in human cancer epithelial cells as well as stromal cells. Since KGF expressed in epithelial cells of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and in prostate cancer, it has been suggested that KGF might act as an autocrine factor in BPH and prostate cancer. To investigate the roles of KGF in cancerous stroma, primary cultured human prostate cancer stromal cells (PCSCs) were isolated and evaluated. These PCSCs possessed estrogen receptors and KGFR, but not androgen receptor as determined by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. KGF exhibited mitogenic and anti-apoptotic effects that correlated with induction of cyclin-D1, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and phospho-Akt expression in PCSCs, where treatment with KGF antiserum abolished cell proliferation and anti-apoptotic protein expression. PCSCs exposed to KGF for various time periods resulted in phosphorylation of Akt and subsequent up-regulation of Bcl-2. KGF modulated dynamic protein expression indicated that KGF triggered cell cycle machinery and then activated anti-apoptotic actions in PCSCs. Cell proliferation analysis indicated that tamoxifen or ICI 182,780 reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner; however, KGF prevented this inhibition, which further demonstrated KGF triggered anti-apoptotic machinery through activating Bcl-2 and phospho-Akt expression. In summary, KGF has an autocrine effect and serves as a survival factor in primary cultured human prostate cancer stromal cells.

Influence of cytokines and growth factors on distinct steroidogenic enzymes in vitro: a short tabular data collection

Cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-11, TNF, IFN-gamma, and TGF-beta) and growth factors (EGF, bFGF, aFGF, and KGF) play an important role in modulation of hormone secretion by directly influencing specific enzyme steps of steroidogenesis in various endocrine cell types. For this tabular data collection, the following enzyme steps were considered: steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17-alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P450c17), 17-beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase, aromatase complex, 5-alpha-reductase, P450c21, DHEAS sulfatase, and DHEA sulfotransferase. This collection summarizes the current information on how the mentioned cytokines and growth factors influence particular enzyme steps.

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of canine acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 cDNA

Acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 has been widely used as an estradiol-independent housekeeping gene. Expression of acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 in canine prostate was detected and canine specific cDNA was cloned. Total cellular RNA was isolated from normal young (5 month-old) canine prostate tissue. Total cDNAs were synthesized from total cellular RNAs by reverse transcription assay. Primers used in polymerase chain reaction were designed from published human ARP0 cDNA sequences and utilized to amplify 562 base-pair (bp) canine acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 cDNA. Nucleotide sequences of canine ARP0 cDNA clones were determined on both strands. Canine ARP0 cDNA and their deduced amino acid sequences share very high homology to ARP0 orthologs from other vertebrate species including human, mouse, rat, chicken, and bovine.