Alterations in sphingomyelin and fatty acids in human benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic cancer.

The present experiments were conducted to examine and characterize the lipid composition of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic cancer tissues (CAP). Lipids were extracted from these tissues and analyzed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas liquid chromatography (GLC). The protein profiles of these tissues were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results of these studies demonstrate that the principal lipids of BPH and CAP tissues are phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, sphingomyelin, fatty acids and cholesterol. The sphingomyelin level is significantly higher in CAP tissues compared to BPH tissues. The differences in the enzymatic activities responsible for the biosynthesis and degradation of sphingomyelin appear to explain at least partially the alteration in sphingomyelin level between BPH and CAP tissues. The major fatty acids of phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine were palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1) and arachidonic (20:4) acid. The arachidonic acid level was significantly decreased in CAP tissues compared to BPH tissues. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed several protein differences between BPH and CAP tissues. The most significant difference was the decrease in 12 kDa protein in CAP tissues compared to BPH. The present data, therefore, suggests that there are significant alterations in sphingomyelin, fatty acids and protein profiles between BPH and CAP tissues.