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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
08:44
Formation of Human Prostate Epithelium Using Tissue Recombination of Rodent Urogenital Sinus Mesenchyme and Human Stem Cells
Published on: June 22, 2013
Prostatic expression of hensin, a protein implicated in epithelial terminal differentiation
J F Ma1, J Takito, S Vijayakumar
1Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
The Prostate
|September 11, 2001
Summary
Hensin/DMBT1 does not appear to play a role in prostate cancer development. However, its localization during prostate maturation suggests involvement in terminal differentiation of the prostate and vas deferens.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Cancer research
- Urology
Background:
- Hensin induces terminal differentiation in kidney cells.
- Hensin and DMBT1 (Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumors 1) are products of the same gene via alternative splicing.
- The DMBT1 gene is located on chromosome 10q25-26, a region frequently deleted in prostate cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the hensin/DMBT1 gene in prostate terminal differentiation.
- To examine the potential involvement of hensin/DMBT1 in prostatic carcinogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Screening for hensin/DMBT1 deletions in cultured prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) cells using PCR and cDNA cloning.
- Characterizing hensin/DMBT1 expression in cultured cells and during prostate development via immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- No deletions of hensin/DMBT1 were found in prostate cancer or BPH cells.
- Hensin/DMBT1 protein was initially observed in intracellular vesicles of epithelial cells in neonatal and young mouse prostates.
- By 6 weeks, hensin/DMBT1 localized to the basal lamina of the prostate and vas deferens, with extensive deposition in mature prostates.
Conclusions:
- The hensin/DMBT1 gene is not implicated in prostate cancer development.
- The observed localization pattern of hensin/DMBT1 during prostate maturation suggests a role in terminal differentiation of the prostate and vas deferens.
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