Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related debilitating
prostatic disease that is frequently associated with prostatic
inflammation and bothersome
lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Animal models have shown that
formalin- and bacterial-induced prostatic
inflammation can induce bladder dysfunction; however, the underlying mechanisms contributing to prostatic
inflammation in BPH and bladder dysfunction are not clear. We previously reported that
E-cadherin expression in BPH is downregulated in hyperplastic nodules compared with expression in adjacent normal tissues. Here, we explored the potential consequences of prostatic
E-cadherin downregulation on the prostate and bladder in vivo using an inducible murine model of prostate
luminal epithelial-specific deletion of Cdh1. The
prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-CreERT2 transgenic mouse strain expressing
tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2
recombinase driven by a 6-kb human PSA promoter/enhancer was crossed with the B6.129-Cdh1tm2Kem/J mouse to generate bigenic PSA-CreERT2/Cdh1-/- mice. Deletion of
E-cadherin was induced by transient administration of
tamoxifen when mice reached sexual maturity (7 weeks of age). At 21 to 23 weeks of age, the prostate, bladder, and prostatic urethra were examined histologically, and bladder function was assessed using void spot assays and cystometry. Mice with Cdh1 deletion had increased prostatic
inflammation, prostatic epithelial
hyperplasia, and stromal changes at 21 to 23 weeks of age, as well as changes in bladder voiding function compared with age-matched controls. Thus, loss of
E-cadherin in the murine prostate could result in prostatic defects that are characteristic of BPH and LUTS, suggesting that
E-cadherin downregulation could be a driving force in human BPH development and progression.