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Cultured stromal cells: an in vitro model of prostatic mesenchymal biology
1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5118, USA. dpeehl@leland.stanford.edu
Background:
Initial efforts to develop in vitro models to study prostatic biology focused on the culture and characterization of epithelial cells. Recently, attention has turned towards inclusion of stromal cells in experimental systems.
Methods:
Improved methods to isolate and culture stromal cells have been developed. An array of markers are employed to characterize subtypes of stromal cells, with particular interest in smooth muscle differentiation.
Results:
Defined, serum-free media are available for certain experimental applications. Conditions that promote smooth muscle differentiation have been identified. Investigators have characterized hormonal and peptide factors that regulate the growth of prostatic stromal cells, and have also described paracrine factors produced by stromal cells that influence epithelial biology.
Conclusions:
Prostatic stromal-cell cultures are now widely employed by a large number of investigators for a diverse array of experimental purposes. While further refinement is required to obtain model systems that fully mimic in vivo processes, the availability of stromal- and epithelial-cell cultures provides a valuable resource for studying normal prostatic biology as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and cancer.