The profile of prostate epithelial cytokines and its impact on sera prostate specific antigen levels

The aim of this study was determined the expression of pro inflammatory cytokines in prostate epithelial cells. Furthermore, we analysed the relation between these cytokines and sera PSA levels according the three groups: 0-4, 4-20 and >20 ng/mL. The study was carried out in five normal prostate (NP), 27 benign prostate hyperplastic (BPH) and 18 prostate cancer (PC). Immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis was performed. Serum levels of PSA were assayed by Immulite autoanalyser. The western Blotting analysis revealed an immunoexpression of IL-1alpha, IL-6 and TNFalpha in BPH and PC. IL-1alpha, was absent in NP. Immunohistochemical analysis showed significant high optical density to IL-1alpha and IL-6 in cancer epithelial cells (19.45 +/- 3.25 and 26.2 +/- 3.19) compared to normal cells (1.73 +/- 1.51 and 4.83 +/- 2.65). While, TNFalpha optical densities were not significant in NP (12.03 +/- 2.9), BPH (9.87 +/- 3.85) and PC (13.34 +/- 2.34). The different profiles of cytokines according sera PSA levels showed a high immunoexpression of the profile (IL-6+, IL-1alpha+) in BPH patients with PSA between 0-4 and 4-20 ng/mL. However, PC patients with sera PSA between 4 and 20 ng/mL, showed a significant high immunoexpression of the profile (IL-6+, IL-1alpha-). This data demonstrate a locally production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by prostate epithelial cells and a cross talk between PSA and these cytokines in prostate pathologies.