Distribution of cathepsin D granules in normal and pathologic conditions in human prostate

Although cathepsin D has been implicated in prostate cancer invasion and metastasis, the distribution of this enzyme in normal human prostate is unknown. We investigated immunohistochemically the distribution of cathepsin D granules in normal prostatic tissues with or without androgen ablation. We also examined the cancer tissues after androgen ablation and the hyperplastic tissues. Changes in the distribution pattern of the larger cathepsin D-positive granules (apoptotic bodies) were observed in the normal prostate as well as in the normal tissue of the anti-androgen-treated cancer specimens. While the apoptotic bodies were denser in the proximal duct of the normal adult prostate, they were more abundant in the normal peripheral acini of the anti-androgen-treated cases. There were few apoptotic bodies in the adenoma tissues, but many in the hormonally treated cancer tissues. These results showed that the distribution pattern and density of cathepsin D granules well reflected the status of the human prostatic cells in relation to age, hormonal environment and hyperplastic or neoplastic change.