Scientists Identify New Cell Subtype Linked to Enlarged Prostates
- Although BPH affects millions of men worldwide, scientists still do not fully understand why it develops primarily in a region of the prostate known as the transition zone,...
- While changes to hormone levels, inflammation, and cellular growth play a role, the exact cellular mechanism behind BPH has remained unclear.
- The team discovered a distinct population of prostate cells called WIF1+ basal cells that are particularly abundant in the transition zone and in BPH cases, while remaining rare...
Although BPH affects millions of men worldwide, scientists still do not fully understand why it develops primarily in a region of the prostate known as the transition zone, while other regions of the gland remain relatively unaffected,
senior author Vasan Yegnasubramanian explained regarding a persistent medical mystery. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have now identified a distinct subtype of prostate cells that could help explain why the gland enlarges with age, reported the article. The condition, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, affects the transition zone surrounding the urethra and is the most common prostate problem in men older than age 50.
Cellular Surge in the Transition Zone
While changes to hormone levels, inflammation, and cellular growth play a role, the exact cellular mechanism behind BPH has remained unclear. Urologist Charles Welliver at Albany Medical College, who was not involved in the research, noted in an August podcast interview that the condition is driven by a numerical increase rather than tissue swelling. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is just an increase in the number of cells within the prostate,
Welliver said, adding that individual cells do not get bigger. To find the source of that surge, Johns Hopkins researchers analyzed noncancerous prostate tissue samples from 10 men with prostate cancer, mapping gene activity across nearly 130,000 individual cells from all three major zones of the gland.
WIF1+ Basal Cell Subtype Discovery
The team discovered a distinct population of prostate cells called WIF1+ basal cells that are particularly abundant in the transition zone and in BPH cases, while remaining rare in other parts of the gland. Published in The Journal of Pathology, the findings reveal that these cells display a unique gene expression profile and are anatomically distinct from other basal cells. Some of their associated genes respond to androgens like testosterone and participate in signaling pathways that influence prostate growth and development. Together, the molecular signature, zonal distribution, and pathway enrichment suggest that transition-zone-enriched WIF1+ basal cells may contribute to BPH pathogenesis by promoting epithelial and stromal remodeling,
the authors wrote.
Cells Dampen Inflammation and WNT in Transition Zone
First author Rulin Wang noted that the analysis showed these cells possess molecular features associated with tissue remodeling, alongside an ability to communicate with neighboring cells to establish the unique biological environment of the transition zone. The researchers speculate that by dampening inflammation and a growth-signaling pathway called WNT, these same cells might help explain why prostate cancer originates less frequently in the transition zone. When Wang and colleagues examined publicly available datasets, they found additional evidence confirming that enlarged prostate tissues are enriched with these altered WIF1+ basal cells.
Future Functional Studies and Drug Targets
Wang indicated that this data raises the possibility that these cells actively contribute to the regional processes making the transition zone susceptible to BPH, though further work is required to confirm the hypothesis. Future studies will examine the precise functional roles of WIF1+ basal cells in the development of enlarged prostates. If subsequent investigations confirm that these cells play a direct causal role in BPH, they could eventually serve as targets for new pharmacological treatments.