Epcam, CD44, and CD49f Distinguish Sphere-Forming Human Prostate Basal Cells from a Subpopulation with Predominant Tubule Initiation Capability.

Background: Human prostate basal cells expressing alpha-6 integrin (CD49fHi) and/or CD44 form prostaspheres in vitro. This functional trait is often correlated with stem/progenitor (S/P) activity, including the ability to self-renew and induce differentiated tubules in vivo. Antigenic profiles that distinguish tubule-initiating prostate stem cells (SCs) from progenitor cells (PCs) and mature luminal cells (LCs) with less regenerative potential are unknown. Methodology/Principle Findings: Prostasphere assays and RT-PCR analysis was performed following FACS separation of total benign prostate cells based upon combinations of Epcam+ CD44+ and/or CD49f expression. Epithelial cell fractions were isolated, including Epcam+CD44+ and Epcam+CD44+CD49fHi basal cells that formed abundant spheres. When non-sphereforming Epcam+CD44- cells were fractionated based upon CD49f expression, a distinct subpopulation (Epcam+ CD44-CD49fHi) was identified that possessed a basal profile similar to Epcam+CD44HiCD49fHi sphere-forming cells (p63+ARLoPSA-). Evaluation of tubule induction capability of fractionated cells was performed, in vivo, via a fully humanized prostate tissue regeneration assay. Non-sphere-forming Epcam+CD44- cells induced significantly more prostate tubular structures than Epcam+CD44- sphere-forming cells. Further fractionation based upon CD49f co-expression identified Epcam+CD44-CD49fHi (non-sphere-forming) basal cells with significantly increased tubule induction activity compared to Epcam+CD44-CD49fLo (true) luminal cells. Conclusions/Significance: Our data delineates antigenic profiles that functionally distinguish human prostate epithelial subpopulations, including putative SCs that display superior tubule initiation capability and induce differentiated ductal/ acini structures, sphere-forming PCs with relatively decreased tubule initiation activity, and terminally differentiated LCs that lack both sphere-forming and tubule-initiation activity. The results clearly demonstrate that sphere-forming ability is not predictive of tubule-initiation activity. The subpopulations identified are of interest because they may play distinct roles as cells of origin in the development of prostatic diseases, including cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]