Apoptosis in Immortalised Prostatic Stromal Cells Influenced by Soluble Factors of Epithelial Origin

Abstract

Much experimental evidence shows that stroma-epithelium interactions in prostatic tissue are responsible for the growth, differentiation and secretory activity of this gland through the production of inductive and inhibiting factors. Tenniswood in particular has suggested the presence of a regulating mechanism based on the balancing of inductive stimuli. Previous research showed that the human prostatic epithelial line U285 we isolated reduces stromal growth through diffusible factors, which are associated with morphological and phenotypic changes. By studying the interactions of the epithelial line U285 and its supranatan with an immortalised human prostatic stromal line U763, the capacity of the epithelial line, and in particular its supranatan, to induce apoptosis in the stromal line was highlighted.