They may have found the cause of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified a specific population of prostate cells linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common condition in men over 50. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, they discovered these cells are predominantly found near the urethra. The study analyzed non-cancerous prostate tissues from men with prostate cancer, focusing on gene activity in over 130,000 individual cells. The identified WIF1+ basal cells exhibit unique gene expression profiles and respond to androgens, influencing prostate growth. This research may explain why inflammation and certain signaling pathways reduce prostate cancer risk in this area. The findings were published in The Journal of Pathology.