Single-Cell Profiling of Mononuclear Cells Identifies Transcriptomics Signatures Differentiating Prostate Cancer From...

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Oncology
• Genomics

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) share etiological factors but have molecular differences.
• Understanding the immune microenvironment is crucial for differentiating PCa and BPH.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the immune cell landscape and transcriptional differences in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) between PCa and BPH patients.
• To identify potential biomarkers for distinguishing PCa from BPH.

Main Methods:

• Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed on PBMCs from 4 PCa and 3 BPH patients.
• Differential gene expression analysis and pathway analysis were conducted.
• CellChat analysis was used to explore cell-cell communication.

Main Results:

• Sixteen immune cell clusters were identified, with elevated CD14+ monocytes, NK cells, and γδ T cells in PCa.
• PCa monocytes showed overexpression of genes linked to tumor progression and metabolism, with heightened interleukin-27 signaling.
• BPH monocytes exhibited increased cholesterol storage and Notch signaling, with distinct monocyte-mediated immune regulation pathways in both conditions.

Conclusions:

• Significant transcriptional heterogeneity exists in immune cells between PCa and BPH.
• Specific immune cell populations and their signaling pathways may serve as potential biomarkers for PCa and BPH differentiation.
• These findings provide insights into the distinct immune microenvironments of PCa and BPH.