Single-cell sequencing analysis revealed that NEAT1 was a potential biomarker and therapeutic target of prostate cancer

Abstract

Background

Prostate cancer (PCa) usually manifests atypical symptoms in the early stage, and once symptoms appear, most PCa patients have developed to the advanced stage, failing to undergo radical surgery. In this study, PCa occurrence-related biomarkers were explored based on single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data.

Methods

scRNA-seq data of prostate normal (Normal), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and PCa (Tumor) samples were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Cellular subsets associated with PCa occurrence were obtained using cell annotation. Additionally, the mRNA expression of nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The effects of NEAT1 on cell proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed by 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) and flow cytometry. Subsequently, cell-derived xenograft (CDX) models were constructed and divided into the LV-NC and LV-shNEAT1 groups. After the tumor tissues of CDX model mice in each group were extracted, the cell growth and Ki67 expression were observed separately using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results

Ten cellular subsets were obtained via cell annotation, and significantly differential changes were observed between Basal intermediate and Luminal during the course of BPH to PCa. NEAT1⁻Luminal was highly recruited in the Tumor group with low stemness and high malignancy scores. Matrix metallopeptidase 7 (MMP7)⁻ keratin 17 (KRT17)⁻Basal intermediate had high ratios in the Tumor group with low stemness and high malignancy scores. The results of pseudotime analysis revealed that NEAT1⁻Luminal in the Tumor group were consistently distributed with tumor stage cells. In vitro assays showed that NEAT1 expression was elevated in PCa cells, and NEAT1 knockdown could inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. CDX assays indicated that silencing NEAT1 could reduce the growth rate of PCa tumor volume in CDX model mice. H&E staining results showed that nuclei of tumor cells were reduced and exhibited lighter color in the LV-shNEAT1 group compared with the LV-NC group. IHC results showed that Ki67 positivity was significantly lower in the LV-shNEAT1 group than in the LV-NC group.

Conclusion

NEAT1 expression is increased in PCa, and NEAT1 can be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for PCa.