The role of Wfdc1/ps20 in the postnatal prostatic development

• Grant number: 25/06799-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Cellular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Hernandes Faustino de Carvalho
• Grantee: Nícolas Alexandre de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The prostate is a heterogeneous tissue associated with three main diseases: prostate cancers, benign hyperplasias, and prostatitides, each more frequently associated with a specific age range and pathophenotypic profile. Despite their different activity profiles, all mentioned conditions involve inflammation of the prostate tissue, suggesting opportunities to define associated environmental factors affecting cellular and molecular aspects. Little is known about the epithelial growth front region during prostate development, as well as its relationship with smooth muscle cell differentiation in the prostate. Therefore, this project branches into three main objectives: (1) Determine the role of smooth muscle cells and collagen fiber deposition in prostate development; (2) Inhibit Wfdc1 gene expression through siRNA and characterize its impact on p63+ cell distribution; (3) Determine lipid accumulation patterns and subtypes, associating them with metabolic variations using microscopy. To support these objectives, we will employ nonlinear optical microscopy techniques such as SHG, FLIM, and CARS, given their label-free nature.