AB012. E-cadherin is down-regulated in benign prostate hyperplasia and required for tight junction formation and permeability barrier in prostatic epithelial cell monolayer

摘要

BackgroundProstate specific antigen (PSA), which is expressed by luminal epithelial cells in prostate was recently shown in the stromal compartment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Since the stromal compartment does not express PSA, epithelial barrier integrity in BPH nodules might be compromised through loss of cell junctions, resulting in the leakage of PSA and other secreted proteins into the stromal compartment and subsequently promoting BPH pathogenesis. E-cadherin, an important cell junction regulator, is found to be down-regulated in epithelial cells in clinical BPH specimens. Whether E-cadherin downregulation affects epithelial barrier permeability is unknown. This research is aimed at examining epithelial barrier permeability change in BPH and exploring the potential role of E-cadherin in prostatic luminal epithelial permeability.