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In This Article

  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Protocol
  • Representative Results
  • Discussion
  • Disclosures
  • Acknowledgements
  • Materials
  • References
  • Reprints and Permissions

Summary

To unravel the earliest molecular mechanisms underlying prostate cancer initiation, novel and innovative human model systems and approaches are desperately needed. The potential of pre-prostatic urogenital sinus mesenchyme (UGSM) to induce pluripotent stem cell populations to form human prostate epithelium is a powerful experimental tool in prostate research.

Abstract

Progress in prostate cancer research is severely limited by the availability of human-derived and hormone-naïve model systems, which limit our ability to understand genetic and molecular events underlying prostate disease initiation. Toward developing better model systems for studying human prostate carcinogenesis, we and others have taken advantage of the unique pro-prostatic inductive potential of embryonic rodent prostate stroma, termed urogenital sinus mesenchyme (UGSM). When recombined with certain pluripotent cell populations such as embryonic stem cells, UGSM induces the formation of normal human prostate epithelia in a testosterone-dependent manner. Such a human model system can be used to investigate and experimentally test the ability of candidate prostate cancer susceptibility genes at an accelerated pace compared to typical rodent transgenic studies. Since Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be genetically modified in culture using inducible gene expression or siRNA knock-down vectors prior to tissue recombination, such a model facilitates testing the functional consequences of genes, or combinations of genes, which are thought to promote or prevent carcinogenesis.

The technique of isolating pure populations of UGSM cells, however, is challenging and learning often requires someone with previous expertise to personally teach. Moreover, inoculation of cell mixtures under the renal capsule of an immunocompromised host can be technically challenging. Here we outline and illustrate proper isolation of UGSM from rodent embryos and renal capsule implantation of tissue mixtures to form human prostate epithelium. Such an approach, at its current stage, requires in vivo xenografting of embryonic stem cells; future applications could potentially include in vitro gland formation or the use of induced pluripotent stem cell populations (iPSCs).

Introduction

There is a tremendous need for better human model systems of prostate cancer. In particular, relevant human model systems of normal, non-malignant prostate tissues which can be genetically manipulated to directly discern the role of specific genes in the initiation of prostate cancer would be incredibly informative. The advent of the genomic era has identified numerous genes which may have a role in cancer formation. A lack of experimental human model systems, however, severely impairs our ability to functionally test and characterize candidate prostate cancer susceptibility genes. An ideal model system would facilitate the rapid and more rapid functional an....

Protocol

This study was carried out in strict accordance with the recommendations in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the National Institutes of Health. The protocol was approved by the University of Chicago Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC, protocol numbers 72066 and 72231). All surgery was performed under anesthesia, and all efforts were made to minimize suffering. The human embryonic stem cell line WA01 (H1; NIH-registration #0043) was acquired from WiCell (Madison, WI) and cultured usi.......

Representative Results

Building on the exciting report by Taylor, et al., our lab has developed an engrafting protocol using the commonly used H1 (NIH-designated WA01, genetically male) human embryonic stem cell line.1 This line has been rigorously tested for quality control and is karyotypically normal.13 When cultured appropriately, hES cells can be maintained, expanded, and cryopreserved in an undifferentiated and pluripotent state using a feeder-free culture method (feeder-free systems commercially availa.......

Discussion

Tissue recombination using UGSM is an incredibly useful technique to investigate the development of the prostate and the molecular events leading to prostate cancer initiation. The inductive potential of UGSM has been used for numerous applications in prostate research; these include enhancing tumor take of prostate cell lines and tumors, studying stromal-epithelial interactions, and forming cross-species prostate recombinants.7,17-20 Proper preparation of UGSM, however, is critical to experimental succ.......

Disclosures

The authors have no conflict of interest with the work presented.

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the support of the University Of Chicago Section Of Urology led by Dr. Arieh Shalhav, and the Director of Urologic Research Dr. Carrie Rinker-Schaeffer. We would also like to acknowledge the support of the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) led by Dr. Michelle Le Beau. We also with to thank expert technical assistance of the Human Tissue Resource Center core facility led by Dr. Mark Lingen, and the assistance of Leslie Martin and Mary Jo Fekete. We also thank the Immunohistochemistry Core Facility run by Terri Li. This work was funded by the University of Chicago Department of Surgery, the Section of Urology; an A....

Materials

NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
NameCompanyCatalogue NumberComments
Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS)GIBCO14170
DMEM/F12GIBCO11330
R1881Sigma965-93-5Mix to 1 ug/ml in Ethanol (1,000x stock)
NEAAGIBCO11140
Pen-Strep SolutionGIBCO15070100x stock
MatrigelBD Biosciences354230
KETASET (ketamine hydrochloride) Fort Dodge Animal HealthNDC 0856-2013-01100 mg/ml; dilute 1:10 in sterile saline
AnaSed (xylazine) VET-A-MIX, Inc.NADA 139-23620 mg/ml; dilute 1:10 in sterile saline
TrypsinBD Biosciences215240
Collagenase SigmaC2014
Ketoprofen Fort DodgeNDC 0856-4396-01100 mg/ml; dilute 1:1,000 in sterile saline
Altalube eye ointment Altaire Pharmaceuticals, Inc.NLC 56641-19850
Leica MZ16 F StereomicroscopeLeicaAny good dissecting scope can be used.
Vannas spring scissorsFine Science Tools15001-08
SyringeHamilton84855
Hamilton Needle, Small RN, 28 gauge, 0.5inches, Point Style #3 (Blunt)Hamilton7803-02 Custom Needle
Ethanol Prep PadsFisher Scientific06-669-62
Sterile Gauze PadsFisher Scientific22-415-469
Ethicon Vicryl Suture (4-0 FS-2)MedVet InternationalJ392H Needle-in, dissolvable suture
Autoclip 9 mm Wound ClipsBecton Dickenson427631
PVP Iodine Prep PadsFisher Scientific06-669-98
Dissector scissor with blunt endFine Science Tools14072-10
Dumont fine tip forcepsFine Science Tools11252-50
Needle holder with ScissorFine Science Tools12002-14

References

  1. Taylor, R. A., et al. Formation of human prostate tissue from embryonic stem cells. Nat. Methods. 3, 179-181 (2006).
  2. Cunha, G. R., Chung, L. W. Stromal-epithelial interacti....

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Tissue RecombinationRodent Urogenital Sinus MesenchymeHuman Stem CellsProstate Epithelium FormationProstate Cancer ResearchModel SystemsHuman Prostate CarcinogenesisEmbryonic Stem CellsGenetic ModificationSiRNA KnockdownRenal Capsule ImplantationInduced Pluripotent Stem Cells

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