Immunohistochemical localization of protein gene product 9.5, ubiquitin, and neuropeptide Y immunoreactivities in epithelial and neuroendocrine cells from normal and hyperplastic human prostate

This study was designed to investigate (a) the presence of protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), ubiquitin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the neuroendocrine and secretory epithelium of the human normal prostate and its secretions, and (b) the changes in immunoreactivity to these proteins in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Western blotting and light microscopic immunohistochemistry techniques were used and the numerical density of immunoreactive neuroendocrine cells, and the volume fractions of immunostained secretory epithelium were evaluated. Western blotting revealed the presence of the three antigens in both tissue homogenates and prostate secretion. Some neuroendocrine cells immunoreacted to PGP 9.5 and NPY in all the prostate regions of control specimens. Ubiquitin immunoreactivity was detected in the nuclei from both basal cells and secretory epithelial cells. The cytoplasm of the secretory cells and the glandular lumen also showed immunostaining for the three proteins. The numerical densities of both PGP 9.5 and NPY neuroendocrine cells were lower in hyperplasia than in controls. No differences in the volume fraction occupied by epithelial immunostaining to both proteins was found between hyperplastic and control prostates. We concluded that (a) PGP 9.5 and NPY, but not ubiquitin, are common antigens in both neuroendocrine and secretory prostate cells, (b) the three immunoreactive proteins contribute to the prostate secretions, and (c) the secretion of ubiquitin is markedly diminished in the hyperplastic epithelium.