Expression and Cellular Localization of Keratinocyte Growth Factor and Its Receptor in Human Hyperplastic Prostate Tissue1
Alessandra De Bellis,
Clara Crescioli,
Cecilia Grappone,
Stefano Milani,
Paola Ghiandi,
Gianni Forti and
Mario Serio
Department of Clinical Physiopathology, Endocrine Unit (A.D.B.,
C.C., P.G., G.F., M.S.) and Gastroenterology Unit (C.G., S.M.),
University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Alessandra De Bellis, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, Endocrine Unit, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy.
It is well recognized that the actions of androgens alone donot
explain the hyperplastic development of the gland that occursin
elderly men. The increasing number of reports confirmingthe lack of
mitogenic activity of androgens coupled with thepowerful mitogenic
activity of growth factors and the discoveryof growth factor receptors
led to an increased interest in theputative role of growth factors in
prostate physiopathology.We have previously demonstrated the presence
and the cellularlocalization of epidermal growth factor and of the
related peptide,transforming growth factor-, together with their
common receptorin the epithelial compartment of the human hyperplastic
prostatetissue (BPH). In the present study we examined the expression
andcellular localization of messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) encoding
keratinocytegrowth factor (KGF) and its receptor in human hyperplastic
prostatetissue. RT-PCR of total RNA extracted from BPH tissues
documentedthe presence of transcripts for KGF and its receptor.
In situhybridization with specific RNA probes
synthesized from therespective complementary DNA demonstrated that KGF
mRNA wasmainly localized in the stromal cells, whereas its receptor
wasmainly localized in the prostate epithelium. Moreover, the
mitogenicactivity of KGF on cultured BPH cells compared to that of
othergrowth factors has been tested. Our findings clearly indicate
thatKGF has the ability to function as a potent mitogen in BPH cells.
Ourdata support the hypothesis that KGF plays an important rolein
prostate growth and that in human prostate it seems to actin a
paracrine fashion.
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, together with their
common receptor in the epithelial compartment of the human hyperplastic
prostate tissue (BPH). In the present study we examined the expression
and cellular localization of messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) encoding
keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and its receptor in human hyperplastic
prostate tissue. RT-PCR of total RNA extracted from BPH tissues
documented the presence of transcripts for KGF and its receptor.
In situ hybridization with specific RNA probes
synthesized from the respective complementary DNA demonstrated that KGF
mRNA was mainly localized in the stromal cells, whereas its receptor
was mainly localized in the prostate epithelium. Moreover, the
mitogenic activity of KGF on cultured BPH cells compared to that of
other growth factors has been tested. Our findings clearly indicate
that KGF has the ability to function as a potent mitogen in BPH cells.
Our data support the hypothesis that KGF plays an important role in
prostate growth and that in human prostate it seems to act in a
paracrine fashion. 
