Prostatic fibroblast (PF)

Prostatic fibroblasts are the primary stromal cells of the prostate gland, responsible for maintaining tissue architecture and regulating epithelial cell behavior through the secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) and paracrine signaling molecules (Schauer & Rowley, 2011). In diseases like Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer, these cells often transition into a reactive stroma phenotype, characterized by the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) and the secretion of growth factors such as TGF-beta and FGF that promote epithelial proliferation (Barron & Rowley, 2012). This phenotypic shift is a hallmark of disease progression, as the activated fibroblasts (myofibroblasts) create a supportive microenvironment for tumor growth and tissue enlargement (Strand et al., 2017). While the prostatic fibroblast is a cell type rather than a single molecular target, it is a critical focus for therapies that aim to disrupt the stromal-epithelial interactions, such as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors which reduce androgenic stimulation within the stroma (NIH, 2023). Furthermore, emerging therapies targeting fibroblast activation protein (FAP) or TGF-beta signaling pathways are being explored to specifically inhibit the pro-tumorigenic and pro-proliferative effects of these cells in the prostate microenvironment (PubMed, 2022).

Other names

Prostate stromal fibroblastProstatic stromal cellProstate fibroblastReactive stroma

Inhibition of androgen-dependent stromal growth and suppression of the fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition via growth factor signaling blockade.