The activated complement pathway in the fibrous process of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Immunology
• Pathology

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) involves complex fibrotic processes.
• The role of the complement pathway in BPH fibrosis is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the activation of complement pathways in different histological types of BPH fibrosis.
• To correlate complement component expression with BPH fibrosis and lower urinary tract symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 56 BPH patient tissues, categorized into fibromuscular and fibrous groups.
• Immunohistochemical staining for CD45, C3, factor B, and C5b-9 to assess inflammation and complement activation.
• Correlation of histological findings with International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Fibrous BPH tissues showed significantly higher levels of complement components C3 and C5b-9 compared to fibromuscular BPH.
• Inflammatory cell infiltration (CD45) was higher in the fibromuscular group.
• A higher score for slow stream (IPSS Q5) was observed in the fibrous BPH group.

Conclusions:

• The alternative and late complement pathways are activated in the fibrotic process of BPH.
• Complement activation, particularly the late pathway, may contribute to the histological fibrosis in BPH.
• These findings suggest a potential therapeutic target for managing BPH-related fibrosis and symptoms.