Stromal cell interplay in prostate development, physiology, and pathological conditions

• Published in: The Prostate Vol. 81; no. 13; pp. 926 - 937
• Main Authors: Sanches, Bruno D. A., Maldarine, Juliana S., Vilamaior, Patricia S. L., Felisbino, Sergio L., Carvalho, Hernandes F., Taboga, Sebastião R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Animals; castration; CD34; Epithelium; hormonal metabolism; Humans; Interstitial cells; Male; Microenvironments; Morphogenesis; Paracrine Communication - physiology; paracrine signaling; Paracrine signalling; Physiology; Prostate; Prostate - pathology; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; reactive stroma; senescence; smooth muscle cells; stem cells; Stromal cells; Stromal Cells - pathology; telocytes; tissue organization; Tumorigenesis; senescence; smooth muscle cells; stem cells; tissue organization; hormonal metabolism; reactive stroma; paracrine signaling; castration; telocytes; CD34
• ISSN: 0270-4137; 1097-0045
• DOI: 10.1002/pros.24196

Advances in prostatic stroma studies over the past few decades have demonstrated that the stroma not only supports and nourishes the gland's secretory epithelium but also participates in key aspects of morphogenesis, in the prostate's hormonal metabolism, and in the functionality of the secretory epithelium. Furthermore, the stroma is implicated in the onset and progression of prostate cancer through the formation of the so‐called reactive stroma, which corresponds to a tumorigenesis‐permissive microenvironment. Prostatic stromal cells are interconnected and exchange paracrine signals among themselves in a gland that is highly sensitive to endocrine hormones. There is a growing body of evidence that telocytes, recently detected interstitial cells that are also present in the prostate, are involved in stromal organization, so that their processes form a network of interconnections with both the epithelium and the other stromal cells. The present review provides an update on the different types of prostate stromal cells, their interrelationships and implications for prostate development, physiology and pathological conditions.