elastin and Prostatic-Hyperplasia

We examined prostate specimens from 5 patients (median age; 71.8 years, range 57-83), with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) removed during surgery, and 4 autopsied cadavers (median age at death; 68.8 years, range 46-92) who had either obstructive or neurogenic voiding dysfunction. The prostate specimens were severed anatomically into samples of the base, middle, and apex of the prostate. They served as samples for a comparative study of the distribution of elastin fibers by means of a pathology study, using the Elastica Van Gieson (EV) staining method. The number of pixels representing elastin fibers in computerized images was analyzed using Adobe Photoshop Ver. 2.0. There was a larger proportion of elastin in the area of the urethra and at the base of prostate than in the remainder of the organ. The percentage of elastin at the base of the prostate was significantly greater among BPH patients than cadavers. Thus, it was demonstrated that elastin a stromal component was increased in BPH patients.

Topics: Aged; Elastic Tissue; Elastin; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prostate; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Tissue Distribution

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is mainly a stromal process, showing an increased ratio of stromal to epithelial elements, a collagen type III downregulation, and a collagen types I and IV upregulation. Little is known about elastin gene expression in BPH tissues due to difficulties related to extensive alternative splicing of the elastin gene. Therefore, we analyzed and quantified elastin gene expression in BPH.. A competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (competitive RT-PCR) quantitative technique was used, and a quantitative elastin mRNA analysis with normal (n = 10) and BPH (n = 12) tissues was performed with two newly designed elastin primers. Small tissue samples (4-8 mg) were homogenized and sonicated, and cDNA was synthesized from mRNA using a RT reaction. Various target (wild-type) elastin cDNAs with unknown concentrations were competitively coamplified with known serial dilutions of the control mutant template, differing from the target cDNA by a short deletion. Gel fractions and computerized densitometry, were performed and cDNA concentration was calculated by linear regression.. The primers identified in our study (BOB-1 and BOB-2) accurately amplified a consistent length of the elastin cDNA, avoiding areas of alternative splicing. The average elastin mRNA concentration in BPH tissues was 53 attomole/mg +/- 11.6 vs. 140.6 attomole/mg +/- 19.6 in normal prostatic tissue (P = 0.019). The variation within every sample was less than 10%.. Our observations suggest a significant downregulation (70%) of the elastin mRNA gene in the transition zone of BPH patients.

Topics: Aged; Densitometry; DNA Primers; DNA, Complementary; Elastin; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Prostate; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Regression Analysis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Templates, Genetic

Clinically aggressive neoplastic development appears to be associated with extensive extracellular matrix biosynthesis. Collagen, non-collagenous protein and elastin from 21 specimens of benign hypertrophic prostate (BPH) and 15 samples of cancerous prostate were determined. Collagen and non-collagenous protein concentrations of BPH were similar to those in prostatic carcinoma. The elastin concentration of well or moderately differentiated prostatic carcinoma was greater than that in BPH specimens. These results may provide an explanation as to the early antecedent or possible aetiology of prostatic carcinoma.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Collagen; Connective Tissue; Elastin; Humans; Male; Prostate; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatic Neoplasms