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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a quite common illness but its etiology and mechanism remain unclear. Neural epidermal growth factor-like like 2 (NELL2) plays multifunctional roles in neural cell growth and is strongly linked to the urinary tract disease. Current study aims to determine the expression, functional activities and underlying mechanism of NELL2 in BPH. Human prostate cell lines and tissues from normal human and BPH patients were utilized. Immunohistochemical staining, immunofluorescent staining, RT-PCR and Western-blotting were performed. We further generated cell models with NELL2 silenced or overexpressed. Subsequently, proliferation, cycle, and apoptosis of prostate cells were determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry analysis. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibrosis process were also analyzed. Our study revealed that NELL2 was upregulated in BPH samples and localized in the stroma and the epithelium compartments of human prostate tissues. NELL2 deficiency induced a mitochondrial-dependent cell apoptosis, and inhibited cell proliferation via phosphorylating ERK1/2 activation. Additionally, suppression of ERK1/2 with U0126 incubation could significantly reverse NELL2 deficiency triggered cell apoptosis. Consistently, overexpression of NELL2 promoted cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis. However, NELL2 interference was observed no effect on EMT and fibrosis process. Our novel data demonstrated that upregulation of NELL2 in the enlarged prostate could contribute to the development of BPH through enhancing cell proliferation and inhibited a mitochondrial-dependent cell apoptosis via the ERK pathway. The NELL2-ERK system might represent an important target to facilitate the development of future therapeutic approaches in BPH.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic condition which mainly affects elderly males. Existing scientific evidences have not completely revealed the pathogenesis of BPH. Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is a member of the heat shock protein 70 superfamily, which serves as an important regulator in many diseases. This study aims at elucidating the role of GRP78 in the BPH process. Human prostate tissues, cultured human prostate cell lines (BPH-1 and WPMY-1) and clinical data from BPH patients were utilized. The expression and localization of GRP78 were determined with quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. GRP78 knockdown and overexpression cell models were created with GRP78 siRNA and GRP78 plasmid transfection. With these models, cell viability, apoptosis rate, as well as marker levels for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and oxidative stress (OS) were detected by CCK8 assay, flow cytometry analysis and Western blotting respectively. AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathways were also evaluated. Results showed GRP78 was localized in the epithelium and stroma of the prostate, with higher expression in BPH tissues. There was no significant difference in GRP78 expression between BPH-1 and WPMY-1 cell lines. In addition, GRP78 knockdown (KD) slowed cell growth and induced apoptosis, without effects on the cell cycle stage of both cell lines. Lack of GRP78 affected expression levels of markers for EMT and OS. Consistently, overexpression of GRP78 completely reversed all effects of knocking down GRP78. We further found that GRP78 modulated cell growth and OS via AKT/mTOR signaling, rather than the MAPK/ERK pathway. Overall, our novel data demonstrates that GRP78 plays a significant role in the development of BPH and suggests that GRP78 might be rediscovered as a new target for treatment of BPH.

Background Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease in elderly men and is often accompanied by chronic inflammation. Macrophages (several subtypes) are the main inflammatory cells that infiltrate the hyperplastic prostate and are found to secrete cytokines and growth factors. The current study aims to explore the effect of M2a macrophages on the development of BPH via insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1). Methods Human prostate tissues, prostate, and monocyte cell lines (WPMY‐1, BPH‐1, and THP‐1) were used. THP‐1 was polarized into several subtypes with cytokines. The expression and localization of IGF‐1 and M2 macrophages were determined via immunofluorescent staining, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis. Flow cytometry and 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were used to investigate the effects of different subtypes of macrophages on prostate cells. IGF‐1 in WPMY‐1 and BPH‐1 cells was silenced and cocultured with or without M2a macrophages. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and fibrosis processes were examined. Results The polarized subtypes of macrophages were verified by amplifying their specific markers. M2a macrophages enhanced prostate cell proliferation more significantly and CD206 was more expressed in hyperplastic prostate. IGF‐1 was localized in both epithelial and stromal components of prostate and upregulated in BPH tissues. M2a macrophages expressed more IGF‐1 than other subtypes. Knockdown of IGF‐1 in WPMY‐1 and BPH‐1 cells attenuated cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, retarded cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase, and suppressed the EMT process in BPH‐1 cells as well as the fibrotic process in WPMY‐1 cells, which was reversible when cocultured with M2a macrophages. Conclusion These data demonstrated that knockdown of IGF‐1 expression in cultured BPH epithelial and stromal cells reduces proliferation and increases apoptosis. These effects are reversed by coculture with M2a macrophages.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common illnesses in aging men. Recent studies found that bone morphogenetic protein 5 (BMP5) is upregulated in BPH tissues, however, the role of BMP5 in the development of BPH has not been examined. The current study aims to elucidate the potential roles of BMP5 and related signaling pathways in BPH.Methods: Human prostate cell lines (BPH-1, WPMY-1) and human/rat hyperplastic prostate tissues were utilized. Western blot, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescent staining, and immunohistochemical staining were performed. BMP5-silenced and -overexpressed cell models were generated and then cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and proliferation were determined. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was also quantitated. And rescue experiments by BMP/Smad signaling pathway agonist or antagonist were accomplished.Moreover, BPH-related tissue microarray analysis was performed and associations between clinical parameters and expression of BMP5 were analyzed.Results: Our study demonstrated that BMP5 was upregulated in human and rat hyperplastic tissues and localized both in the epithelial and stromal compartments of the prostate tissues. E-cadherin was downregulated in hyperplastic tissues, while N-cadherin and vimentin were upregulated. Overexpression of BMP5 enhanced cell proliferation and the EMT process via phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8, while knockdown of BMP5 induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and blocked the EMT process. Moreover, a BMP/Smad signaling pathway agonist and antagonist reversed the effects of BMP5 silencing and overexpression, respectively. In addition, BMP5