A transition zone enriched WIF1 ⁺ basal cell subtype is associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Cell Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• The distinct zones of the human prostate and their specific disease susceptibilities are not fully understood.
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent condition predominantly affecting the transition zone (TZ).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cellular composition of benign prostate tissues and identify cell populations associated with BPH.
• To characterize a specific basal cell subtype enriched in the prostate transition zone.

Main Methods:

• Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of benign prostatectomy specimens.
• Analysis of existing scRNA-seq datasets.
• Pathway and cell-cell communication analyses.

Main Results:

• A novel basal cell population expressing WIF1, VCAN, and NRG1 was identified and found to be significantly enriched in the transition zone (TZ).
• This WIF1-expressing basal cell subtype was also found to be enriched in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues compared to normal prostate.
• Pathway analysis indicated these cells are involved in cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and hormone response.

Conclusions:

• The TZ-enriched WIF1+ basal cells possess molecular characteristics suggesting a role in BPH pathogenesis.
• These cells may contribute to BPH by promoting epithelial and stromal remodeling within the transition zone.