sonic hedgehog信号通路蛋白在人胚胎前列腺发育不同阶段的表达及意义

目的:探明son ic hedgehog信号通路中几个关键的效应蛋白son ic hedgehog(SHH)、Patched1(PTC1)、Smoothened(SMO)及GLI1在人胚胎前列腺组织中的定位表达及变化。方法:应用免疫组织化学方法研究SHH、PTC1、SMO及GLI1在不同胎龄(10~39周)人胚胎前列腺组织中的表达变化情况。结果:随胎龄增大,SHH、PTC1、SMO及GLI1在前列腺组织中的表达水平呈由弱变强,由强渐弱,又由弱转强的双峰变化趋势。SHH和SMO仅表达在胚胎前列腺上皮细胞中;而PTC1和GLI1主要表达在上皮细胞外,也可表达在腺体周围的间质中。结论:SHH信号通路参与了人胚胎前列腺发育的调控过程,可能对于腺体发育初期的诱导发生,以及后期的增殖、分化都具有重要的调控作用。

Expression Patterns of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Molecules in Human Fetal Prostate Development

Objective: To investigate whether the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway is involved in the development of human fetal prostate,and to evaluate the changing staining patterns of its molecules,sonic hedgehog(SHH),patched1(PTC1),smoothened(SMO),and GLI1,in the human fetal prostate at various gestation stages.Methods: Fifteen human fetal prostate specimens at various developmental stages(10~39 weeks) were included in this study.SHH,PTC1,SMO and GLI1 were detected in all the specimens by immunohistochemical technique.All the slides were observed and assessed under the light microscope.Results: SHH,PTC1,SMO and GLI1 could be detected in human fetal prostate tissues,and their expression formed two surges,the former at week 16,and the latter at week 28.The staining of SHH and SMO was distributed only in the ductal epithelium but not in the stroma.The expression of PTC1 and GLI1 could be found mainly in the epithelium,with minimal staining in the stroma.Conclusion: The sonic hedgehog signaling pathway is involved in the development of the human fetal prostate.The high expression of its molecules at early gestation stages might be associated with the induction of prostatic buds,while their abundant expression at later gestation stages might be related to the prostate ductal branching,growth,differentiation and morphogenesis.