INFLAMMATORY INFILTRATE IN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA - EVIDENCE OF A HOST RESPONSE TO INTRAPROSTATIC SPERMATOZOA

Summary— The inflammatory infiltrate was characterised in 20 samples of prostatic hyperplasia using cell surface specific monoclonal antibodies. The infiltrate was composed predominantly of CD‐3 + T‐lymphocytes. The distribution of the T‐lymphocyte subsets (CD‐4 and CD‐8) between the epithelial and stromal components of the gland was significantly different, with most of the intra‐epithelial infiltrate being CD8 +, T cytotoxic/suppressor cells. This may be a necessary immunological barrier, as in the epididymis, to prevent the development of autoimmunisation to sperm antigens. Large numbers of CD4+ T helper/inducer cells and significant numbers of CD‐11c + macrophages were demonstrated in the extra‐glandular stromal tissues, suggesting a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction. Intraprostatic spermatozoa have been demonstrated recently and we have confirmed this finding on post mortem specimens. It is postulated that the presence of an intra‐epithelial cytotoxic barrier and the marked stromal infiltrate may be due, in part, to the intermittent presence of spermatozoa within the prostate. © 1990 British Journal of Urology