A number of parallel pathophysiological pathways have been implicated in the pathogenesis of BPH and PCa, including age-related prostate tissue remodelling, hormonal and metabolic alterations, and the previously neglected inflammatory disorder. Recently, PCa and BPH have been considered in the context of local immune reactions and inflammatory response of the prostate, which may also be reflected systemically [2]. The normal, healthy prostate is infiltrated by small numbers of T cells, B lymphocytes, and macrophages, all of which provide physiological

protection to the tissue [3]. BPH, which is stromal hyperproliferation and epithelial overgrowth of the prostrate tissue, is associated with increased leucocyte infiltration [4] relative to the intensity of the inflammation [3]. Several lines of evidence have shown that Small molecule library the prostate tissue in patients with BPH contains diffuse infiltrates of T lymphocytes, predominantly CD4+ cells, in the stroma [5]. Similarly, in PCa, tissue-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been observed in

and around the cancer tissue [6]. Although Belnacasan purchase previous studies on various cancers have shown that tumour infiltration with TILs is associated with increased survival [7–9], there does not appear to be a correlation between the presence of TILs and survival of patients with PCa. This may be because of the infiltration of regulatory T cells, which negatively correlates with the immune response against cancer [10]. However, Kasic and Viola [11] performed phenotype analysis and showed that TILs of PCa samples were predominantly CD8+ cells. Another possible reason for ineffective surveillance in patients with PCa could be the inadequate expression of cytotoxic molecules, such as perforin (P), in and around the tumour [12]. However, in BPH tissue, P-expressing cells were rare, although the survival of these patients was not affected [12]. Moreover, little is known about the role of NK cells, which are potent effectors of innate immunity

in the first line of tumour defence. Fossariinae P is the primary mediator of short-term cytotoxicity and forms pores in the membranes of target cells (pore-forming molecule). It is accumulated in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18), stored in the cytoplasmic granules of cells with a cytotoxic phenotype (T lymphocytes, NK cells and NKT cells as a unique subpopulation of T lymphocytes which share common characteristics of T and NK cells), and released upon activation [13–18]. At the ‘cellular synapse’, the released P monomer begins to polymerize in the presence of Ca+ ions and imbeds in the membrane of target cells, forming pores that allow ion exchange. This leads to osmotic imbalance and ultimately, necrosis of the target cell [19].