Human and murine prostate basal/stem cells are not direct targets of prolactin

摘要: Local overexpression of prolactin (PRL) in the prostate Pb-PRL transgenic mice induces benign tumors exhibiting marked amplification epithelial basal/stem cell compartment. However, PRL-activated intracellular signaling seems to be restricted luminal cells, suggesting that cells may not direct targets PRL. Given their described role as cancer-initiating it is important understand mechanisms regulate cells. In this study, we evaluated whether PRL can act directly on these by growing them prostaspheres. For this, primary 3D prostasphere cultures were prepared from unfractionated isolated freshly harvested human and mouse tissues subjected stimulation vitro. None various concentrations tested showed any effects sizes or numbers prostaspheres generated. addition, neither activation canonical PRL-induced pathways (Stat5, Stat3 Erk1/2) nor increased expression proliferation marker Ki-67 detected immunostaining PRL-stimulated Consistent with absence response, receptor mRNA levels generally undetectable sphere We conclude are action. The observed prostates might due paracrine originating action other compartments. Our current efforts aimed at unraveling mechanisms.