Human prostate organoid generation and the identification of prostate development drivers using inductive rodent tissues

Mechanistic links between development and disease can be exploited to provide clues to the cellular signalling pathways that might become re-activated during adult pathogenesis such as those affecting the prostate. However, the mechanisms underpinning prostate development require further characterisation. Previously, our group developed novel methods to produce prostate organoids using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Here, we show that the iPSCs can be fully differentiated into prostate organoids using neonatal rodent seminal vesicle mesenchyme (SVM) in vitro. Additionally, we elucidated molecular drivers of prostate induction through RNA-sequencing analyses of the rat urogenital sinus (the embryonic precursor of the prostate gland) as well as the neonatal seminal vesicles. We identified candidate drivers evident in the inductive mesenchyme and epithelium involved with prostate specification. Our top candidates included Spx, Trib3, Snai1, Snai2, Nrg2, and Lrp4. This work lays the foundations to further interrogate the reactivation of developmental genes in adulthood, leading to prostate disease. Tissues from rats known to induce prostate development were isolated. RNA-sequencing of the tissues identified candidate drivers of prostate development. Co-culture of seminal vesicles with human iPSCs in vitro generated prostate organoids.