C Bisegna1, G L Gravina2, F Pierconti3, M Martini3, L Larocca3, P Rossi1, P Grimaldi1, S Dolci1, S Di Stasi4, E A Jannini5. 1. Section of Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. 2. Division of Radiotherapy and Radiobiology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. 3. Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 4. Section of Urology, Department of Surgery Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. 5. Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE5) expression in the normal and pathological prostate is controversial. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at identifying the cell type/s, if any, expressing PDE5 in human healthy or pathological prostate sections in order to further validate the rationale of PDE5 inhibitor (PDE5i) treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and their safety in the treatment of erectile dysfunction following prostate cancer (PCa) surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By immunohistochemical analysis, we studied PDE5 expression in tissue microarrays containing sections obtained from healthy, BPH, and PCa samples. RESULTS: Our results showed that PDE5 is barely expressed in the epithelial or stromal compartment of normal human prostates, but it is highly expressed in the stromal compartment of BPH sections. We also found that a low but significant number of PCa samples (22%) expressed PDE5 in the epithelial cancer cells but not in stromal cells and that such expression was not correlated with the tumor aggressiveness, according to their Gleason score. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: PDE5 overexpression in the stromal compartment of BPH samples supports the rationale of PDE5 as a target in lower urinary tract symptoms of BPH. PDE5 expression in a significant percentage of PCa samples but the lack of correlation with the Gleason score suggests that this enzyme is not correlated with tumor aggressiveness; however, a role of PDE5 in the minimal residual disease of PCa cannot be excluded.
BACKGROUND: Type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE5) expression in the normal and pathological prostate is controversial. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at identifying the cell type/s, if any, expressing PDE5 in human healthy or pathological prostate sections in order to further validate the rationale of PDE5 inhibitor (PDE5i) treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and their safety in the treatment of erectile dysfunction following prostate cancer (PCa) surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By immunohistochemical analysis, we studied PDE5 expression in tissue microarrays containing sections obtained from healthy, BPH, and PCa samples. RESULTS: Our results showed that PDE5 is barely expressed in the epithelial or stromal compartment of normal human prostates, but it is highly expressed in the stromal compartment of BPH sections. We also found that a low but significant number of PCa samples (22%) expressed PDE5 in the epithelial cancer cells but not in stromal cells and that such expression was not correlated with the tumor aggressiveness, according to their Gleason score. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:PDE5 overexpression in the stromal compartment of BPH samples supports the rationale of PDE5 as a target in lower urinary tract symptoms of BPH. PDE5 expression in a significant percentage of PCa samples but the lack of correlation with the Gleason score suggests that this enzyme is not correlated with tumor aggressiveness; however, a role of PDE5 in the minimal residual disease of PCa cannot be excluded.
Authors: Emanuela Alessandra Greco; Cristina Antinozzi; Luigi Di Luigi; Antonio Aversa; Paolo Sgrò Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2022-04-11 Impact factor: 6.208
Authors: Viviana M Bimonte; Francesco Marampon; Ambra Antonioni; Simona Fittipaldi; Elisabetta Ferretti; Richard G Pestell; Mariaignazia Curreli; Andrea Lenzi; Giovanni Vitale; Antonio Brunetti; Silvia Migliaccio; Antonio Aversa Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-01-13 Impact factor: 5.923