Differential Expression of Zinc Transporters in Prostate Epithelia of Racial Groups.

摘要

In the award (W81XWH-08-1-0627), the stated goals were to study the zinc transporters that may be disparately expressed in the prostate tissues of African American (AA) males as compared to European American (EA) males. This may lead to the identification of potential molecular targets for nutritional, environmental or life style factors for their potential relationship to the incidence or progression of prostate cancer in various racial groups. The following tasks were carried out in a synergistic fashion between the laboratories of Dr. Bagasra (Claflin University) and Dr. Balla (University of Illinois, Chicago): Task 1: We measured the differential expression of four zinc transporters- hZIP1, hZIP2, and hZIP3 genes by RT-in situ PCR in the tissue arrays (TMA) prepared from various racial groups. We found significant decrease in hZIP1 in AA when compared to EA. No difference was found in the other two transporters (hZIP4 was not expressed in the prostates of either AA or EA). Task 2: We determined the differential levels of the amount and location of intracellular zinc in various areas of the prostate gland as well in cells in different histological grades of cancer and in healthy prostate tissues by utilizing fluorescent zinc indicators and confocal microscopy both in AA and EA subjects. Task 3, immunohistochemical expression of these genes was not approved for funding. Tasks were accomplished, as written below.