Spatially resolved transcriptomic analysis of the adult human prostate

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Cell Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• The prostate exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity.
• Understanding its cellular composition is crucial for studying prostate diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a comprehensive single-cell atlas of the adult human prostate.
• To identify novel cell types and their spatial localization.
• To investigate potential cell origins of prostate cancer.

Main Methods:

• High-resolution single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing.
• Spatial mapping of cellular populations.
• Integration with bulk sequencing data.

Main Results:

• Identified 253,381 single cells and 34,876 nuclei, categorized into 126 subpopulations.
• Discovered new prostate cell types and their spatial distribution.
• Found two luminal cell types potentially originating prostate cancer.
• Identified association of two acini with ETS-fusion-negative prostate cancer.
• Suggested zone-specific fibroblasts contribute to luminal cell heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

• The developed prostate cell atlas provides a valuable reference for prostate biology and disease research.
• Identified potential cellular origins for prostate cancer.
• Highlighted the role of fibroblasts in prostate heterogeneity.